Rubbish policy dismays
I’m dismayed by the autocratic ‘onesize-fits-all’ rubbish policy adopted by Tauranga City Council.
It is in such contrast to what I experienced duringmytime living in Calgary, Canada, whereby thissame issuewasopen for full public consultation.
The outcomewas an inexpensive, creatively agreed ‘user-involved’ system without household bins.
Throughout the city, large colour-coded containers were permanently placed in every supermarket parking lot and other public parking areas.
Each containerwasdesigned for either paper, cardboard, plastics, glass or cans andwasregularly emptied.
The expectationwas for citizens to drop off theirownrecyclables at their convenience.
Excluded were spirit, wine and beer bottles/cans that bore a 10c refundable fee at designated recyclers and thus a great charity fundraiser.
Compostable household garbage bags were purchased through local food/hardware retailers and the cost included aweekly pickup charge.
Toencourage compliance, the city initiated spot garbage bag checks ensuringno recyclables with financial penalties for infringements.
The only bin exceptionwasgreen/ garden waste whichwasprivately contracted for pickup if required.
Onefinal relevant comment. In a recent international poll, Calgarywas rated as one of the world’s five cleanest cities included with Singapore.
Tonyfellingham Tauranga
Shamefuldisplay
There are at least two types of leaders. The most obvious at this time is Donald Trump, President of the United States, whohas taught the rest of the world a very valuable lesson.
Whenhe becamepresident, people believed what he said, and assumed he must be right and they followed like sheep.
They never stopped to check if he wastelling the truth and look athow he has led themupto the Capitol and they have all done what he incited.
The day of reckoning is still to comefor those destructive groups together with the anti-social misfits whojoined them.
Whata shameful display of criminal destructive behaviour.
Innewzealand thesamecan happen with leaders— be they in government, local or central, sporting clubs, appointments by government, or our learning institutions— it is fundamental that they are truthful. Wesee in theushowanarchy grows, as toomanypeople follow like sheep without checking the facts, whether they are being told the truth or not.
Weall have a responsibility to do ourhomeworkandmakesure that whatweget is needed, and preserve our democracy.
Margaret Murray-benge Bethlehem
Knee-jerk policy
Iwonder if the$36mannounced by the Government to cleanupand protect waterways isn’t just another knee-jerk policy based on the embarrassingnewsthat there are 50 Auckland beaches unswimmable. Otherwise, whywould it take until the second quarter to put this in place?
The green-cleannewzealand concept becomes a greatermyth daily. Let’s drop the lies until the label is the truth.
Adkirby Pa¯pa¯moa