Microchipped trash bins come to the US

[Platapus]

The article is misleading. (A newspaper misreporting the news to incite emotional responses? Say it aint so, joe, Say it aint so.)

In the city of Alexandra, every resident is charged a Solid Waste User Fee, which is added to their bi-yearly tax assessment bill. This fee is used to pay for the city's waste disposal and recycling program. Since it is a city tax, any increase must be paid equally by every city resident. This is why even if the resident chooses to use the old bins, they are still taxed at the same rate as everyone else.

http://alexandriava.gov/tes/solidwas....aspx?id=19204

Virginia Code section 2.2-2668 requires the Recycling Markets Development Council to monitor adherence to Virginia Regulations Chapter 130.

Virginia has mandatory recycling requirements. We have a two tiered system

Localities or regions (called Solid Waste Planning Units or SWPUs) with population densities less than 100 persons per square mile or with an unemployment rate 50% higher than the statewide average now qualify for a 15% mandated recycling level, with all others remaining at the 25% recycling mandated level.

http://www.deq.state.va.us/recycle/mandatory.html

The micro-chipping of the recycling bins seems to be the cheapest and least intrusive way to monitor compliance with state regulations. The other choice would be for State/county/city inspectors to visit and look at your trash. I am sure most residents would not like that.

It can be debated whether Virginia should have a mandatory recycling program. But it does and it is the law. But the laws are not written for the individuali, but for the cities and administrative areas. It is the city that will be penalized if the city does not adhere to the state regulations not the individual.

Alexandria is using the micro chipped bins as a means of surveying, quickly and cheaply, which areas of the city are following the state regulation.

Mr. Heid is just trying to stir up emotional responses, and evidently has succeeded.