A new scheme in Cleveland will see residents having to ensure their recycling is out in a timely manner or risk receiving a fine of $100.
As the fine-based recycling schemes grow in popularity worldwide, many local authorities in the UK and US have taken to adopting the scheme. Prior to the coalition government’s announcement that the UK would focus primarily on rewards-based recycling, councils across the country were beginning to adopt penalty-based initiatives.
This latest scheme in the US city in Ohio will see RFID smart chips placed into bins in order to monitor which residents are placing rubbish out on time. The city council will take stock of the information and collection lories will be responsible for collecting data on the householders as well. Those who have been throwing out recyclable goods or putting waste out late will be fined up to $100 under the new scheme.
The move has been met by a host of outcries from the local community, with many householders feeling that the proposal is too reminiscent of ‘big brother’ and several demanding that the council not take advantage of residents’ privacy. Similar schemes are being debated across the UK as well. With the recent waste policy changes in the new government, many councillors have moved to a more rewards-based approach. However, there are still many local authorities that maintain a fee policy or are debating charging residents for failure to sort rubbish properly.
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