‘It’s not rocket science’

A new waste collection service has started in Ashford. We reported how the council had been swamped with calls from residents with questions about the new system. Below are some of your online comments.

Tim Arnold Everyone needs to get real, the rest of the UK and Europe have been recycling for years. If anything, it makes life easier. One bin for paper, plastics, glass the other for waste food and anything non recyclable like pet waste, nappies, polystyrene, light bulbs and general rubbish. The council sent a booklet a big calendar and a sticker to put on your recycling bin, what more do you want?

Karen Hutton I think it’s a good idea, no more rubbish all over the streets where the foxes and birds have had their dinner out of the black sacks.

Kate Swofty Not very clear as to what actually is recyclable. I thoughts all plastic but it’s not according to the video also found out via website by chance that our collection date has changed.

Hayley Davies I agree more info on what goes where, as three bins is confusing, food waste easy but recycle bin and normal household is confusing. I’ve tried to do it right but if it’s wrong it’s down to the council, as they should make it more clear by sending more info.

Annie Balson Got mine a few weeks ago and still got the booklet which tells you what can and can’t go in each bin. Find the new system easy, does help having the booklet to refer to. My normal refuse has reduced massively.

Wayne Robinson I’ve had the green bin for sometime now. I don’t agree with having to pay an extra £30 a year but it is handy for me. The new recycle and non-recycle bins are very very low quality.

Kate Swofty Kelleher I totally agree with the recycling but I haven’t had a calendar or stickers. Why isn’t packaging recyclable it has the recycling logo on it?

Kelly Hendrick The food bin was all scuffed up where they had obviously thrown it out of the truck and the tape they stuck to the top of the recycle bin left its sticky mark over the lid, so my bins already look like I’ve been using them for years!

Sue Hook-Griffiths I don’t know why but I seem to have received more information than others. What is not on the recyclable list and is not food goes in the refuse bin. Simples!

Elodie North I think recycling is a great idea and I am glad we are finally doing it. If you are unsure about what is suitable for recycling check at the back of the item, there is a recyclable logo on 99% of things and usually something which will say for example – widely recycled , or check with local recycle centre. It’s not rocket science but I agree that the food bin sitting for a week is slightly unhygienic especially with meat, etc.

Garry Andrew Curley They provided a sticker to go on the recycling bin so you can read that and check before it goes in, they provided a very simple to read booklet that explains it all. Stop embarrassing yourselves and look for the answers rather than feeling the need to be spoon fed.

Adam Schtum Hunter It’s what the rest of the country and most of Europe have been doing for almost two decades with great success. Why do some Ashford residents think they are so different and refuse to try something new? Once you get into the swing of it, it becomes second nature. Of course there will be difficulties to start, if they don’t collect my rubbish tomorrow no issue, I’ll take it to the new centre at Cobbs Wood or leave it for a few weeks until they come back.

Clarissa J Huggett My recycling bin is nearly full after one week! It’s just everyone needs to get used to doing things a bit differently. It’s not that hard.

Stacey-Louise Smith It isn’t right we have to put up with smelly nappies and cat litter for two weeks at a time. They should do recyling every two weeks, refuse and food every week!

Jo Jowers We’ve made squashing the recycling to put it in the bin a job for the kids - gives us a bit more space. The council’s okay with extra recycling being put out alongside the green bin, they even say so on the website so don’t just stick it in the normal bin. Ashford is catching up with the rest of the country!

Sandra Guess I’m glad we now have bins. Some people put their rubbish out days before, then it gets spread all over by birds. I think it’s better for the poor refuse men as well, some things they have to pick up are disgusting.

Chezz Graham Not sure why people are complaining, it’s really not difficult to put something in a separate bin.

Gareth Recht If you all have time to sit on Facebook and whinge then you have time to look at the website if you don’t understand. If you had questions then the council run road shows all over the borough which the Kentish Express advertised, so you could have gone to one of them. It’s very simple and so good for the environment for such little work. How about a bit of positivity!

Kelly Freddie Brown I’m not even bothering with this new scheme it’s so confusing and not being funny with eight of us living in a house one bin is not enough.

Teresa Linsdell It’s an absolute joke, one recycling bin is not enough for a family of five. It’s not getting collected until next week and it’s already full.

Sammy Fairman I don’t mind recycling but we are a family of five and our bin is nearly full. The collection is not for over another week, so once the bin is full it’ll be in the normal household rubbish which kind of defeats the object. I think recycling should be weekly.

Kerry Peel I live in a flat, as yet no solution has been found for us so no recycling for us! The simple idea of getting two flats to share (which would mean there is enough room for the bins) is just too much for ABC to work out!

Hayley Mason It’s a joke my recycling bin is full and I’ve got to wait ten days until it gets picked up! Why don’t they pick up all three bins every week?

Sue Harden If you have large family, you can request a bigger recycling bin. Just ring the council and ask !

Sarah Kurkowski I live in a flat and got a letter saying we aren’t having food waste bins etc and I really want them. There is plenty of room and some people in flats in other parts of Ashford have them.

Andy Ruffell Requested a wheelie bin after we were told our property was unsuitable. We have a car port on the side of our house making us one of the most suitable houses, as opposed to our neighbours who are in a terraced house and have their bins.

Mark K Brown Why do we need to put small electrical items in a carrier bag? They have just thrown the kettle I put in a carrier bag in the same compartment as the refuse.

If you wish to add your comments about the new service, visit our Facebook page or email or write to us at the usual addresses.