SIC bans folk leaving aside items at Gremista dump

[Equality Street]

Went by the dump the other day to ditch some old furniture and, as I've done many times done before, I thought I'd leave a couple of decent looking items for anyone that wanted them.

 

As most folk will know, you can usually leave stuff on the left hand-side, just next to the office for other passers by to have. I've found some decent tools there before and so I'm happy to reciprocate. Sure, i could probably stick some of these things in the classifieds or to Cope, but I don't really have the time or the inclination. If it's worth something to someone else then I'm happy for them to have it.

 

So, having just ditched some broken old white goods that were of no use to anyone (in the appropriate area, naturally), I drove past the 'donation' area to drop off an old guitar amp that's been cluttering up the house

 

Almost immediately one of the chaps who worked there rushed up and told me that it had to go in the electrical waste section. He explained that they were "no longer allowed" to have an area where folk could leave household goods for others to pick up, and that if I was to leave it it would be incinerated with all the other rubbish.

 

Apparently, he explained, there had been a complaint from a women who had a bee in her bonnet about "health and safety", having witnessed some folk taking donated items and had complained to the council. Subsequently it had come down from upon high that there would no longer be an unofficial area set aside for the public to give away unwanted items.

 

Honestly, this kind of petty, short-sighted, jobs-worth, bureaucratic meddling really boils my pi$$. How dare the council respond in such a draconian fashion to the shrill pleepsing of some irate busy-body. It really does beggar belief.

 

Aren't we all meant to be good little eco-people? Surely this kind of 'take/donate what you want' scheme is EXACTLY the kind of behaviour we should be encouraging as a community, especially in these times of so-called austerity?

 

It didn't take a think-tank, or an eco-consultant or some overpaid committee to come up with the idea - it was just a load of Shetlanders doing what came naturally. And what happens? Some faceless cypher at the SIC kiboshed it because of one poxy complaint. Pretty pathetic, no?

 

 

 

[Kavi Ugl]

Yes, it was one of the best places for recycling to be found in Shetland and came from just a peerie bit of common sense and good naturedness.

 

So, the SIC have stamped on one of the things they go out of their way to promote(recycling)......

 

That sounds just about right.....

[MuckleJoannie]

I've had a few things from there over the years. It's a real pity it has been stopped. I notice that they've also removed the COPE box for recycling tools.

[shetlandpeat]

Did anyone ask for the real reason?

 

I would look forward to the official response. Then you could act.

[engineer21]

if you have something that might be worth something to other folk take it to Cope - its on the way to the dump anyhow, if they dont want it, cant sell it then they can skip it iam sure. plus you would be supporting a good local asset

 

its totally crazy that you can no longer leave stuff aside

[michael_balmain]

That really is a shame. Had many a wonderful thing out the skips and a boxes 42" LCD HD on the side. Best find ever.

We've been very lucky in Shetland however the situation is totally different south.

[Ghostrider]

Hardly a surprise, skips, "bruck and muck squad" (as they were/are??) called and to a lesser degree the dump as is, has done more to discourage and prevent recycling than all the official "initiatives" have ever done to encourage it.

[Scorrie]

"Elf an' Safety, innit?"

 

The bog-standard get-out clause.

 

Was that the real reason, I wonder, or some numpty crapping themselves in case someone attempted to sue the Cooncil after being crushed by having a 'recycled' plastic garden chair blow across the park - or some other such common recycling-based disaster scenario?

 

Where's me clipboard?

[HN38]

I left a brand new pair of curtains in a bag at side other week and a guy that works there threw them in the skip and didn't ask me if i wanted to take them back first or i would of put them to charity shop or scrap store.

The thing was he came up to me after and explained so could of given the option to take back before throwing away

[groilick]

Sounds lek you Dun wife hes gied up chaesting dug turds an fag ends and is efter da scranners

[Girzie]

I never heard anything so stupid. This sort of scheme is in operation all over the country without mishap. Was yun wife miffed because somebody else got a bargain she wanted?

[stilldellin]

Complete madness, however I think COPE already inundated with bruck and you always have to seek out someone to come and eyeball what you are dumping, canna see it working without changes. Always worth checking here first :- http://www.shetland.gov.uk/waste/A-Z/A-ZHome.asp

[unlinkedstudent]

Perhaps we should inundate the SIC with e-mails, faxes, telephone calls, etc., and complain that they've taken this facility away and demand it is reinstated?

[muggins]

it will all go back the way it was if theres less noise about it , always does , not that it affects me one jot

[Shetland_boys]

there was probably no wife, i bet the staff was just annoyed at people leaving junk on the side.

If not then if it only took 1 woman to complain to stop it why dont we all complain to have it back