Here we have public place waste bins on a busy beach strip in Melbourne.
The bins are three meters apart, they are both identical, both very expensively manufactured, look quite new and what’s even more disturbing, they both call themselves ‘RUBBISH’ bins.

There is no way we can have any separation of waste using this system.
Either the council feels that everything that goes into these bins can be recycled or nothing that goes into these bins can be recycled.
I thought we had spent years establishing public place bin systems to encourage waste separation??
Have we given up?? What on earth is going on here??
I’d bet a gold plated wheelie bin that everything that goes into these two identical bins will end up in landfill.
Should anyone beg to differ I would certainly like to hear from them.

over & over
wasteman

Here is a photo of the bins inside ikea. Very stylish. Designer even.

…and here’s a photo of the bin just outside the door.

Comments welcome.

wasteman
over&over

Not a single person had a go at answering the question posed in previous post. Either no one knows or no one reads wasteman’s blog. Let’s hope it’s the former.

So why is there only one single bin outside a major Melbourne sports venue? Why when inside are all the bins the same? how are we supposed to do the right thing and separate our waste at the ‘throw away’ point?

The answer as I have mentioned in the previous post is, in theory, very cool.

This venue, and many other public venues subscribe to a system known as CLOSED LOOP.

In theory, all the ‘stuff’ we buy inside these venues comes in packaging that is recyclable. but here’s the clincher…

The people who manufacture the packaging, are the same people who recycle it!!!

These dudes want the packaging back again. So if the only ‘stuff’ you can get at the venue is recyclable there becomes no need to have to SEPARATE anything…and hence…only ONE single bin is needed at every ‘bin station’.

I say ‘in theory’ as there are a couple of wrinkles that I say need ironing out.

1. How do you deal with the food and cigarette buts?

2. I did see evidence of non recyclable packaging inside the venue. Yep, sorry folks. But unless the fairy floss maker can come up with a better way to package the floss, I’m afraid he may just have to go!

3. The logo on the front of the bins needs work.

Get my drift?

over&over
wasteman

ps Here’s a link to the closed loop website. Tell them wasteman sent you!

pss  Apparently closed loop is a ‘visy’ thing? I’ll have to investigate this further. I reckon it ought to be a ‘natural’ thing.

http://www.visyclosedloop.com/

one single bin outside major Melbourne sports venue (forget about the ashtray...that's another story)

Why when we have become so accustomed to seeing two bins side by side is there only one bin outside a MAJOR Melbourne sports venue?
The answer is simple and clever (in theory)..

Inside the single bin. It’s a clue!

Do you know the answer? Let me know. Otherwise I’ll have to tell you at a later date.
over&over
wasteman

Anyone who knows me will know that I have a theory when it comes to public ‘rubbish’ bins. I have been saying for years now that the system we need is simple and incorporates just two bins.

One for FOOD/ORGANIC, and one for EVERYTHING ELSE – Simple!

Over the last ten years or so, we have managed to simplify our public place bin systems. Gone are the days when we are confronted by a different coloured bin for just about every different type of waste you could think of. I still find reminents of this system. Blue lids, red lids, green lids. I’ve even seen orange lids. Heaven only knows what that bin is for.

These days, most public place bins utilize a TWO BIN system. Only problem is, in my opinion, they haven’t quite got it right. Most systems today have one bin for RECYCLABLES and a second bin for ‘RUBBISH’ or WASTE.

Has anyone noticed the new bins on the railway stations?

Once again, very groovy graphics (some graphic arts company would have done very nicely out of this job!) but the point is, once again, they’ve missed the point!

I believe what we need is a two bin system – One bin for FOOD/ORGANIC and the other for EVERYTHING ELSE. I’m not going to go into it in depth right now. What I’d really love is for you out there to challenge my theory.

As you probably know, I was recently in Bali having a look around and lo and behold… have a look at what I found…

…and for those of you having a little trouble reading the signage

Here it is!

One bin for ORGANIK and the other for NON ORGANIC  ie everything else!
On the beach in downtown Legian. I am still in shock!

wasteman
over&over

Hi everyone. I’m still in Bali and return Friday10th. I’m unable at the moment to load any pictures but I’ve taken plenty and look forward to filling you in when I arrive home. I think I have actually found the two bin public system I keep talking about (organic/non organic) here in Bali. I can’t believe it! Stay tuned…

over&over
wasteman