Thursday, April 5, 2012

$1.1M for Recycling Bins That Tell on You?


Were you aware that Wilmington authorized $1.1M for new recycling bins? If you're a close reader of the local news, chances are you were.

Were you aware that these recycling bins will be outfitted with rfid chips? Chances are you weren't. Only the StarNews mentioned it and they mentioned it very briefly.

However, it's true and clearly stated in the supplemental documents for the last City Council meeting:

Each of the roll-out carts will have a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip which will allow us to collect and maintain data regarding the carts’ use, location, and to target outreach efforts in specific sections of the City.
Additionally, City dump trucks are going to be outfitted with readers for these rfid chips. The cost will be about $81k.

What are these going to be used for? Well, if you're familiar with the City of Wilmington you're aware that the answer is probably: "no good".

Let's take a look at how they've been used in other places.

Cleveland Plain Dealer:

It would be a stretch to say that Big Brother will hang out in Clevelanders' trash cans, but the city plans to sort through curbside trash to make sure residents are recycling -- and fine them $100 if they don't. The move is part of a high-tech collection system the city will roll out next year with new trash and recycling carts embedded with radio frequency identification chips and bar codes.

The chips will allow city workers to monitor how often residents roll carts to the curb for collection. If a chip show a recyclable cart hasn't been brought to the curb in weeks, a trash supervisor will sort through the trash for recyclables.

Trash carts containing more than 10 percent recyclable material could lead to a $100 fine, according to Waste Collection Commissioner Ronnie Owens. Recyclables include glass, metal cans, plastic bottles, paper and cardboard.
Another:

[S]ome cities are using RFID tags to penalize those who don’t recycle. Earlier this summer, Laurel, Md. began using RFID bins to enforce $25-100 fines for houses not using their bins. All bins are linked to an address, and the city requires recycling participation.

It's my guess that this is exactly the kind of thing that Wilmington has in mind.

Is this a good idea? Is recycling even "environmental friendly"? Of course not. Take a closer look at the facts:

"Recycling may be the most wasteful activity in modern America." (Originally NY Times)





It's another scam. And it's going to wind up costing you more and more.

3 comments:

  1. Good! Anyone not recycling should be fined $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second offense, and continue to double it each time.

    Just because you and your fellow selfish, careless, do-nothing tea-baggers do not care the world we leave our grandchildren will be a polluted mess doesn't mean we ALL feel that way. Some of us realize the world isn't just about us, and that there will indeed be future generations to come that will have to deal with the consequences of our actions today.

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  2. SO you would give the government that much power over people's lives? I thought we lived in a free country - where you are free to recycle to your heart's content, and I am free not to if I choose. Incidentally, I do recycle on my own - but I will intentionally stop if the government starts sending out goon squads to enforce this nonsense by force. Plus, your entire little feel-good utopian rant is complete garbage. Have you done any research into the amount of raw energy consumed and the natural resources it takes to operate a recycling facility? Why do you leftists always assume the government has the most moral and upstanding position above all else, where you would willingly turn over not just your life, but everyone else's by force? Why do you despise liberty and freedom?

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  3. Lol you two knuckleheads are meant for each other. I wouldn't be shocked to see you drop dead from heart attacks your so high strung over nonsense. It's you and groups like yours, spreading nonsense, that is wrong with the government. Your probably birthers and think the Ron Paul photo-bomb of Obama was real and think the moon landing never happened. You're both idiots. I do thank you for putting together this cute site, I come here everytime I need a good laugh.

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