Recycling Issues

[MidTowner]

Here's what the report itself said:

Citizens were then asked whether their household could manage bi-weekly garbage collection, if unlimited blue boxes and green bins continued to be picked up weekly. Exactly half of the citizens surveyed reported that their current practices would allow them to manage bi-weekly garbage collection, while half were opposed to it. Support for bi-weekly collection is strongest among green bin users.

Citizens were asked their thoughts on a reasonable bag limit for bi-weekly garbage collection. The majority of citizens (66 per cent) would be served by a bi-weekly four bag limit, which corresponds with the reported current set-out rates of approximately two bags per week.

What MidTowner was getting at wasn't who would prefer a different policy, but who would find it more than an inconvenience.

Thanks. To me, the most important part of the report is that the average waste set-out is 1.8 bags for non green bin users, and 1.5 bags for green bin users. A two bag weekly or four bag biweekly limit is therefore going to be no more than theoretical for the average household, who will not be challenged by this limit to reduce the waste they send to the landfill. A three bag limit would require the average non green bin user to become a green bin user (which is one of the goals).

As you point out, mpd618, two thirds of people would be served by the 4-bag biweekly limited- meaning both that they would be able to meet it, and would not be inconvenienced by it.

We really should be discussing averages here. For people with medical conditions and other legitimate reasons, there will be exemptions. For those who simply can not be bothered to reduce their waste, there is always the option to pay to get rid of more.