Bradford Council is hoping we will all recycle the food we waste or currently leave on the sides of our plates. Trying to reduce the strain on our diminishing landfill would not mean endless leftovers but it would mean that food waste is collected separately, just as some other recyclables are.
A pilot scheme is set to hit the streets later this year and has already garnered praise from Environment Minister Ben Bradshaw - and rightly so. The general success of recycling efforts in some areas has shown there is real support from the public for reducing the amount of waste we create. It can only be a good thing if local authorities can tap in to this by providing workable opportunities for people to do more.
Workable is one of the keys, however. It is important that people's willingness to participate is not dented by problems with collections. It is also important that the Council does not turn off willing participants by seeming to be heavy handed with those they think are not toeing the line. So it is pleasing to note that there are no plans to introduce barcodes on bins, as the Government is now effectively advocating by relaxing the restrictions on this iniquitous measure.
Council tax payers already contribute enough for refuse collection without having to cough up for fines imposed by a new layer of unwanted and costly bureaucrats peering into our bins.
The challenge of improving recycling levels and reducing landfill waste will be better overcome by winning the hearts and minds of local residents rather than by bullying.
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