should people who refuse to recycle be charged an extra tax on their rubbish?

Question

spycams in bins perhaps?
or covert rubber glove bin bag diving operations?

Answer 1

No. We need to recycle, definately, But we need to do other stuff first.

Our bin is less than 10% full every two weeks.
No reason why every families couldn't be the same.

People who buy unnecessary products with unnecessary packaging should be taxed more.

Whats the point in wasting all this enegy on recycling if we continually produce uncecessary waste in the first place. The world is messed up in this respect and recycling is just designed to make people feel better. A bit like the oxygen mask in a plane. Its pointless but makes you feel a bit better about yourself.

Next time you buy something stop and think:

1 - do i need it
2 - could i get by in a way that meant i didn't have to buy this
3 - can i buy a version with less packaging

when you do this consistantly and automatically I'll be happy to discuss recycling. Until then, recycling things you didn't need in the first place is hypocritical.

I've never seen any report that shows the true cost of recycling. They stop short of including the environmental cost of the recycling plant, lorries etc and the increased purchasing power of those employed in such plants (giving someone disposable income increases the polution just by itself)

Answer 2

Yes.

What it takes is a huge fixed cost investment.
But this cost can be recovered.

Use transparent bins, each house/block of houses/apartment block given 4 bins, one for paper, one for plastic, and one for cans, and one for perishables and other stuff.

To push it further use a separate bin for perishables which can then be turned into compost.

To defray the cost of the bins, companies would be allowed to place an advertisement on one side of the bin. It would be an ad many people would see almost daily, whether they like it or not.

Then hire a few inspectors whose job would be to look at the bins and decide whether waste has been properly separated.

Alternatively we could switch to the Japanese system where each type of rubbish is collected on a specific day. Same principle, only that without transparent bins, the enforcement would be harder.

Answer 3

How about reversing the question and saying should people who recycle regularly get a discount on their council tax?

The recycling collectors could easily keep a log of how much a particular household recycles (e.g. by weight of each weekly collection), input the data into a simple spreadsheet that could work out a discount. No need for 'big brother' spy cams or other espionage which will keep the politically-correct brigade happy.

Answer 4

If recycling facilities are provided then people should use them - properly. We have blue bins for plastic bottles, paper and card and a black bin for other waste. If you have the wrong stuff in the bin the binmen put a huge lump of tape over it saying CONTAMINATED and refuse to collect it. Apart from the inconvenience of having to sort your bin out and do without it being emptied, this method has shamed people into doing it right. Good stuff !

Answer 5

A bit undecided. Part of me says yes however there a lot of elderly people who cannot get to recycling places, so it would be unfair . However able bodied ,if the council do not have a system of collection should most definitely be made to recycle, but by getting to get together with neighbours. That's a thought they could also collect from the less able bodied.

Answer 6

Charging a tax because people don't recycle isn't fascist or illegal yet. However, independent waste disposal contractors may chage extra fee for not separating the garbage into recyclables and waste. It depends on where you live.

People may not like it but it's the right thing to do. They can complain all they want but what are they going to do? Not use the waste disposal service? They need to stop being irrational and start recycling.

Answer 7

If our council made it easier for us to recycle, more people in our area would do it.
In our area, the only thing which is collected from our door is paper.
If we wish to ercycle other goods, we have to get in our cars and drive to the dump, where there is a limited selection of recycling bins. Getting in the car defeats the purpose of trying to save energy and create less pollution.
As for being charged extra tax - I'm all for it, if the facilities are made available for everyone to recycle.

Answer 8

I think that people that didn't still recycle would just stick their bags in your dustbin so you'd need a camera on the bin with a camera in the bin!

Answer 9

Tough one.
How do you police it without turning into BigBrother!!!
I would like to see an increase in recycling, but forcing people to do so will only offend those whose help you need.
The way forward then is to educate the public, i include myself, a lot more about the uses of recycling.

Answer 10

NO! you are already charged redemption value when you buy aluminum cans or plastic bottles so if u don't recycle those items the state keeps that money. You must be a democrat!