Questions over waste scheme
AS prospective councillors, we were concerned to read about the Labour-run county borough council’s unworkable and unenforceable proposals in the Gazette (February 9) to limit the majority of households to two rubbish bags per fortnight, and that checks will be made on those households with more than five occupants to ensure any additional bags are only being used for recyclable waste
Residents may be issued with fixed penalty notices “for deliberate abuse” and we will also be unable to take additional black bags to the local tip without having to split them open and have them inspected.
While we would all agree with the necessity of increasing recycling and reducing the amount of household waste sent to landfill, there is justifiable concern from residents about how this new heavy-handed scheme is going to work in practice. For example, what is to stop my next-door neighbour from putting another bag outside my house?; how are pet owners going to dispose of pet waste?; when grandchildren come to stay at half term, how will grandparents dispose of nappies? And how will people who are disabled or incontinent be able to dispose of waste without the humiliation of having to apply for a special collection?
From our perspective, the proposed scheme is a nonsense and we will reverse the decision to introduce this illconceived scheme if we are elected to form the next administration following the council elections on May 4. The proposed scheme will lead to widespread confusion from residents.
While council efforts to meet the Welsh Government’s stringent recycling targets are important, in contrast to Labour’s “stick”, we will provide a “carrot” for people to recycle a greater amount of their household waste and this will be done through the introduction of a Recycling Incentive Scheme. Residents who recycle their household waste properly, thereby reducing the proportion of their waste sent to landfill, will be able to collect points and redeem them at participating local retailers; exchange them for rewards including leisure activities; or even convert points into cash donations towards a local good cause.
In our view, there is a clear need to explore innovative measures to incentivise a more socially responsible attitude towards our waste management rather than over-penalising people in the pursuit of meeting our obligations towards our natural environment.