Wheely Big Issue

I was more than a litle surprised, I have to admit, to see the story about fortnightly bin collections become lead the line on BBC Breakfast. Firstly because its just not that interesting and secondly because I thought that's what most places did now anyway?

Scientists tells us, with their usual confidence, that having your main rubbish bin collected only every other week is not a health hazard.

I can offer some insight here, as Ashfield District Council, on which I sit, has done this for quite some time. There are significant cost and environmental benefits to doing this, mainly as only having your normal bin collected on alternate weeks forces people to either use their recylcing bin or drown in a heap of black bags.

However, there are significant problems. All over Ashfield last summer bins were often seen crawling with maggots, whether the owner had properly disposed of thier rubbish or not. The reality is that the current style wheelie bins are simply not suited to storing rotting food for 14 days outside in the heat. It's not a health hazard per se, maggots won't kill you, but it is disgusting. So, yes to 14 day collection, but also yes to better wheelie bin.

Must find something more interetsing to write about next...