We’re always happy to receive a Letter to the Editor on issues affecting the Isle of Wight. Keith Fagan shares his views on the proposed changes to rubbish collection. If you have something you want to share, get in touch. Ed
I would like to draw Islanders attention to the Isle of Wight council (IWC) consultation on the proposed changes to refuse collection.
Having visited the IWC website I found their consultation questionnaire to be very biased and written to provide them with only one result (the one they want).
Lack of impact assessment
Closed questions only endorse preconceived answers. The questionnaire fails to comment on any impact assessment surveys or health and safety issues. Why?
We all pay our council tax and it is the responsibility of the council to ensure that waste is recycled, not the householder.
It would be better if they suggest a reduction in our council tax to promote HOME RECYCLING. No mention of this in their questionnaire. Why?
Previous doorstep survey
A couple of years ago a council doorstep survey team asked us about our recycling habits.
We did all we could and told them that we were surprised that there was no provision for plastic or tin cans.
Their response was “We have been asked about this a lot” and assured us that “the council sorted those items at the depot” To further justify their comment they told us that it would be very difficult for households to sort plastic as there were too many different types. What has changed?
Heads they win Tails we Lose
If we respond using the questionnaire we run the risk of endorsing their decision. If we do not fill in the questionnaire we will, by default, give the council the green light. Heads they win Tails we Lose.
Any organisation consulting with their customers (members of the public) must be open and willing to accept that there is always an alternative view. Clearly refuse and landfill is a problem nationally.
However, fortnightly collection of refuse are not necessarily the answer as this will ultimately lead to home storage issues, rubbish in the streets and fly-tipping. Not a good advert for a holiday destination.
Share your views with your councillor
Visit the site and judge for yourself if you agree with me write to your Ward Councillor (for or against) and provide them with your views along with any suggestions you may have to help the council with this problem.
Whatever you do not ignore this important issue.
