Name and shame!

Name And Shame!

 

Tell you what; recycling is becoming a game of blame, name and shame these days!

Don't get us wrong, we understand and appreciate the importance of the “reduce, reuse, recycle” mantra more than most, but it still comes as a surprise to see how some local councils are encouraging efficient waste management.

See, for every instance of a positive scheme, such as a campaign to get people excited about their bins through art projects and fun events, or a school offering prizes to pupils who recycle the most in a month, there's another instance of a council publically identifying a wrongly used bin, or even fining its owner.

A few weeks ago, a Hull resident found his recycling bin hadn’t been emptied because a single crisp packet was visible at the top, with Hull City Council explaining that this particular type of packaging is not recyclable, therefore the bin could not be emptied. Pretty ridiculous really, especially when the man claims that the packet wasn't even his and was most likely deposited by a passer-by, which happens frequently when bins are stored on or near the pavement. Even if the crisp packet were his, surely we’re each allowed the odd mistake? Evidently not.

This week, a scheme has come into place whereby residents of Greater Manchester will have red tags attached to their bins if they're not recycling properly. These angry markers will sport a snappy ‘wrong stuff, wrong bin' message, clearly putting the owner in their place. It may seem a bit fussy, but then when you take into account that poor recycling costs the area £25 million a year, perhaps your opinion will change slightly. Plus it's not just the naughty people that are getting tagged, as those who practice exemplary recycling behaviour will see their bins adorned with a green tag that reads 'right stuff, right bin'. So all's fair in love and war, not to mention empty soup tins and yoghurt pots.

But there is one thing that’s troubling us. Though we hope that this initiative will both motivate residents of the Greater Manchester area to recycle properly, thereby saving the council money, the question is… well… how much do all those tags cost

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