Time to bin this rubbish bylaw plan

IMAGINE being asked to provide evidence you did not commit a crime which did not take place?

Such a scenario is straight out of Monty Python but it could soon come to pass if “bin police” crack down on those who don’t dispose of waste properly.

Proposed new bylaws could allow local authorities to use the Eircode system and data from the waste companies to check if homes are signed up for collections. If not the “bin police” can impose fines.

The proposals raise serious data protection issues, but who worries about such technicalities in a State which forces the public to use a Public Service Card which, according to a leading lawyer, has no “lawful basis”.