microchips in trash cans to determine waste

**rosey7415** · 03-13-2010, 12:09 PM

i was in n.c. this past weekend for a wedding. i cut out this story because i wanted to share it with my fellow fv'rs. it was written by gregory katz at the associated press. care to comment? please do!

"britain spies on trash cans to monitor amount of waste."

london- it's the new front in britain: microchips placed in garbage bins to monitor how much people throw away.

a pro-privacy group warns in a new report that more than 2.6 milion of the chips have been installed in what is seen as a first step toward charging those who toss too much.

proponents say it's a bid to push recycling. opponents say it stinks.
they should mind their own business said terry williams, an unemployed londoner who thinks the govermment is meddling. i believe they have gone too far. it's not like we are throwing away anything that is illegal.

the advocacy group big brother watch found through a series of freedom of information requests that many local goverments, called councils in britain, are installing the microchips in trash cans distributed to household, but in most cases have not yet activated them- in part because officials know the move would be unpopular. they are waiting for the political climate to change before they start using them said campaign director dylan sharpe, who predicted that families that produce large amounts of garbage would be fined.
the trash microchips are now part of the british information grid, which already includes a heavy reliance on closed-circuit television surveillance and cameras to monitor the population, particulary the crowded public transportation system.

this is yet another piece of surveillance that the councils are taking on in our daily life, share said. with this information they tell if we are home or not, and the information is stored on their database, which is not that secure. he said the pay as you throw policy councils are planning to implement would discriminate against large families that generate more waste and might encourage people to burn their refuse- or dump it illegally- rather than pay extra.

that is what 's happened in ireland, where they've tried this. he said. over the last 10 years, we've seen a massive increase in closed-circuit television surveillance, and the introduction of laws allowing police to search at random. there has been a general trend in this country toward gathering as much data as possible.

but gary hopkins, a councilor in bristol, said the microchips will be a tool in an innovative program to reward people who reduce waste, not part of a secret plan to charge those who produce high volumes. it's voluntary, not compulsory, he said. a compulsory plan would not work. we've managed to persuade the people of bristol to participate in the recycling program. we want to encourage the people who aren't using it to join as well.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME FOR NOT USING ALL THE PUNCTUATIONS, MISSPELLINGS, ETC. AS I HAD TO TYPE IT ALL OUT AS I DIDN'T HAVE ANY LINK TO ATTACH TO.

**Linus** · 03-13-2010, 12:14 PM

Here's an online link: The Associated Press: Waste watchers? UK group fears trash bin spies

If it wasn't used for monitoring by the gov't, it would be neat. I mean, to know exactly how much you waste each year and then you can learn how to adjust.

The nature of the chips and their exact purpose vary across the country: Some of the chips are intended to sense the weight of the garbage piled into a bin. Others are meant to track the whereabouts of the bin itself, or check whether it has been emptied.

**Inkstain82** · 03-13-2010, 12:16 PM

The government shouldn't be involved with my trash. Except to take it away. Or something. Wait, that isn't right ...

Living in the UK certainly has to be a lesson in compromise. I don't think I could do it, they expect a little too much in terms of giving up privacy and freedoms.

**pollypurebred39** · 03-13-2010, 12:21 PM

the less government the better

on a side note: I just wonder how much it cost the UK for those mirco chipped cans, and later the micro chip program?

**annymoll** · 03-14-2010, 06:48 PM

I wonder what is in the Queen's trash. Hmmmmmm.

**britbunny** · 03-15-2010, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by annymoll

I wonder what is in the Queen's trash. Hmmmmmm.

I dread to think! Actually Prince Charles is always rattling on about the environment, maybe he goes through it and sorts their recycling for them...

**rosey7415** · 03-15-2010, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by britbunny

I dread to think! Actually Prince Charles is always rattling on about the environment, maybe he goes through it and sorts their recycling for them...

go pcharles!!!!! you two are so funny.............lol

**savvy_sniper** · 03-15-2010, 10:20 AM

The city of Houston has a pilot program going on. They have given large green rolling recycling bins to certain neighborhoods. They have a chip and monitor the WEIGHT of recycling collected. The home earns credits that are redeemed for gift cards to restaurants and stores.

My MIL is in one of the pilot neighborhoods. We are outside the city limits. We have no curbside recycling. We take plastic (1-7), cans, and glass to her house. We take our paper and cardboard to the recycling bins at all neighborhood schools and save and turn our aluminum in for cash.

**IntlMom** · 03-15-2010, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by savvy_sniper

The city of Houston has a pilot program going on. They have given large green rolling recycling bins to certain neighborhoods. They have a chip and monitor the WEIGHT of recycling collected. The home earns credits that are redeemed for gift cards to restaurants and stores.

.....ooooohhhhhhhh................ me thinks I loooove this idea!!

Sign me up!!!

(although, just cause I an "environment junkie" and would love this, how do they monitor that what is going into the bin is acutally recyclable?)

**savvy_sniper** · 03-15-2010, 01:23 PM

I am not sure, but the website states that IF it is discovered that non-recyclables are found, they CAN remove the can from the property. You are given two cans, one for regular garbage and a green one for recycling.

I am sure that the program will evolve over time. In April, if you want to put leaves or grass clippings to the curb, you must buy recyclable bags marked and made for that purpose. They also are encouraging composting or leaving grass clippings on the lawn instead of picking up and putting curbside.

Originally Posted by IntlMom

how do they monitor that what is going into the bin is acutally recyclable?)

**savvy_sniper** · 03-15-2010, 01:25 PM

The city also partnered with a company to put big recycling bins in certain HEB parking lots around the city. Because people abused the one near us (dead fish/animals, etc), the bin was removed!

Originally Posted by IntlMom

.....ooooohhhhhhhh................ me thinks I loooove this idea!!

Sign me up!!!

(although, just cause I an "environment junkie" and would love this, how do they monitor that what is going into the bin is acutally recyclable?)