Bin collection no problem
Every time a council plans to introduce alternate week refuse collections someone (or even several people) write in and complain.
Recently it was Alan B Shrank, of Shrewsbury, on the proposed collections by Shrewsbury and Atcham Council.
Several points needs explaining again.
Firstly, you are still getting weekly refuse collections - one week is for recyclable material and the other for landfill refuse. People with problems, such as those who live in flats, are usually separately catered for. Commercial premises can pay for weekly collection.
Next, some people complain of flies, rats, foxes and smells. If the lid of a wheelie bin is kept closed it will prevent the first three and reduce the forth.
Smells can only come from food and nappies. If you are putting food in your bin you are buying or producing too much, cook less. In my family almost no food is put in the bin.
Nappies are more of a problem. The answer is to use reusable ones. They will save you hundreds of pounds. If disposables have to be used put them in a sealed bin and put them in the wheelie bin the morning it is emptied.
Landfill sites are likely to run out by 2020. We have to recycle more and look for ways of managing our waste better. Complaining before a new system is tried out is not the way forward.
Try it out and discuss problems with your council recycling staff. Thee problems are not serious in Telford. Only a very few still complain.
Richard Camp, Wellington
