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On show: A transparent bin bag
Big Brother's watching you - and your rubbish
Kirsty Elleray and Victoria Morley21/11/2007
MEDICINES, pregnancy testers, and other highly personal items could soon be on show to your neighbours, after the Council introduced these see-through bin bags.
Although Council officers insist the change in the way rubbish is collected is to stop illegal business tipping, furious locals have accused them of snooping, and introducing the bags to spy on the population.
The new bin bags have already been sent out to Marple, where residents have found their discreet weekly black bin bag replaced with a roll of 60 transparent sacks - to last a whole year.
Every other area in the borough will be getting the same clear light blue bags, as the scheme is rolled out between now and April.
The Council claims the bags have been made see-through to expose people who are throwing away business waste illegally, and insist it is not so they can spy on people, to see if they are recycling.
But furious Marple man Michael Taylor, is not convinced. He said: “I think the Council just want to snoop on people and make sure they are not throwing tins or bottles away. It could be an invasion of our privacy.
“We’re being encouraged to recycle, which is good, but I wasn’t aware business waste was such a huge problem to warrant such a dramatic change.
“The real reason for the introduction is almost certainly to start targeting people who don’t recycle. I just wish they would be honest enough to admit it. Our family recycles enthusiastically but it is not as easy for everyone.”
The see-through bags are soon to be delivered in Edgeley and the ward’s councillor, Sheila Bailey says residents there are also unhappy.
She said: “Privacy is an issue with things like medicines on view, as well as issues of fraud and ID theft.
“Those who have evil intentions could discover all sorts of personal information.
“People will know what you have been eating or doing. I think it’s over the top to claim it is to expose people who are throwing away business waste. There is not an army of people out there looking to get rid of stuff that they shouldn’t be.
“The bags are another daft idea by Stockport Council, it is a mistake, people will perhaps not even use them, which is a waste in itself.”
But a Council spokesman insisted: “The bags are the same thickness and dimensions as the black bin bags. Items can be wrapped before placing them in the bin bag.
“Our officers may call on residents who don't recycle to advise them of recycling services available.”
And he warned: “If residents don’t use the recycling containers, we could refuse to take their rubbish.
“With the many recycling services the Council offers, residents shouldn’t have to put out extra bags. However, if residents need to, we ask that the bags are securely tied and left at the edge of their property on collection day. Extra bags will be taken.”
Since this introduction the Council claims people have requested more recycling boxes, as paper, glass, jars and drinks cans can’t go in the new bags.
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4/12/2007 at 16:26
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