Bournemouth Residents Have “Wheelie Bin” Naughty!

The environmentally friendly citizens of Bournemouth are being ‘sent to the headmaster’s office’ for failing to put the correct waste into their green recycling bins.
Strict guidelines have been set up regarding what is and what isn’t allowed in the bins and residents who are found not complying with these rules will have a ‘contamination sticker’ branded on their bins requesting that the owner call a hotline.
The hotline will explain that the resident has broken council rules regarding recycling, how to avoid re-offending and then sent a further letter to reinforce their message.
Those who fail to ring the message when they are ‘stickered’ will not have their bin emptied. Repeat offenders could end up with a ‘hefty fine’.
Residents have been up in arms ever since the initiative was put into action. Resident Cyril Baker, 73, said, “It is degrading and humiliating. What right have the council got to treat people in this way?
“Not only has this recycling scheme increased our water bills because we have to rinse out cans and tins for recycling, but now we have to make a telephone call during the daytime”.
Tory councilor Nick King said, “I have had lots of calls from people who are fuming over this. They object to having to call a hotline to be told off like a naughty school boy going to the headmaster. Why can’t the council treat its residents like adults instead of children?
A member of Bournmouth’s recycling team told The Skip, “It is an education process at the moment. If your bin hasn’t been taken away then that’s because there is some contaminated waste inside”.
It emerged days after the Daily Mail revealed that nearly 100 people a day are being fined under laws that punish householders for leaving the wheelie bin lids open.
This article was originally published in Issue 18 of The Skip