Kerbside recycling raises questions

I read in the Whanganui Chronicle (February 23) that the Whanganui District Council is about to sign a contract for kerbside recycling.

I note the preferred option will be three open crates per household (for cans, paper/cardboard and glass). I also note the crates will be open to the elements (wind and rain) which means all crates will be subjected to filling with water and the paper/ cardboard will inevitably become a soggy mess. Will this still be appropriate for recycling?

If winds in Whanganui can blow our wheelie bins over, what will it do to the paper and plastic trays etc in the crates?

Who will be responsible for these items blowing down the street? Apparently, there are “things” you can purchase to put over your crates at the householder’s expense. With the cost of the three crates estimated at $134.16 per household, this equates by my calculations to an approximate rates increase of 3 per cent even before the next increase is struck. Also, where are we at with the proposed food scrap bins? Will this be another additional cost when introduced?

While the council is on a roll with recycling, why not introduce a green waste bin? That will give us six bins/ crates (including current wheelie bins) one each for six days of the week, then we can rest on The Sabbath!

KEVIN SMITH

Whanganui (Editor’s note: The Whanganui District Council has a kerbside food scraps collection trial under way with 400 households, with the intention of rolling out the service to the community in 2025.)