After the announcement of Bristol City Council’s newest recycling reward scheme, a Labour councillor has warned that the scheme could become a “big stick” punishment for householders who are not recycling regularly.
It was reported yesterday that Cotham, Redland, and Bishopston will be encouraged to recycle more household waste in order to earn cash incentives. The total incentive could reach up to £40 per year for each participating household. In all the trial will include 2,000 households to start.
A small microchip will be placed into new wheelie bins which will then be distributed to participating households. The microchips will allow the weight of the recycled waste to be recorded. Currently the council is awaiting for the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs to decide on a proposal for matched funds. A decision will be handed down next Monday.
If the funding is received, Bristol will become the first council in the UK to take on a paid incentive scheme for recycling.
However, there have been mixed emotions about the scheme. Back in 2006, UK residents became angry when it was revealed that some recycle bins had been outfitted with microchips. People were concerned that the councils had begun acting too much like big brother.
Members of the Labour party have spoken out to warn Bristol that this scheme could cause a repeat of the 2006 incident, but others maintain that the incentive programme will serve to boost recycling habits as residents realize they can save money by adopting the programme.
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