George #6

Here's an idea... try to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

Instead of taking a "I'm the boss so make my life easier" approach try imagining that you are part of a community and there are little things that you can do to make other other people's lives easier.

It's about time that Mark Christison and all the other jobsworths who work for councils and government departments up and down the land were told in no uncertain terms that they're public servants and that their job is to make like as easy and as pleasant for their employers (i.e. us) as possible.

A 'rules is rules' approach to their petty peeves should not be tolerated.

The Christchurch mayor and CEO should put Mark Christison (and anyone else who works for the council who has this attitude) on notice that they better step up or step out.

It seems to me that we have more room in our bins now than we did in the Council issued bags that preceeded the bins. If I saw someone loading up other people's bins, I too would take the rego number & report them to the Council (perhaps with a photo!).

I travel to work at 5.30 in the mornings. I think readers would be surprised if they took a drive at that hour and saw exactly what Christchurch people are trying to put in their bins. What I've seen includes - a ladder, an outdoor umbrella (open) and a car door forced in so tightly that the bin shape was distorted. I've even seen a bin with the lid bound half way shut with silver duc tape. On this one - I think the Council has a point. Its not only dangerous - its inconsiderate, time wasting (for the drivers) and probably very messy for the rest of us.

If my bin gets too full I just put the overflow in my neighbours bins, providing they have enough space in theirs.

I used to work for a private refuse company. The lifter arms were restricted to lift no more than 80kgs for a 240litre bin (your recycle bin) so I'm unsure what they have set them for smaller bins but that might help as to why your bin was not emptied. If the arm can't lift it then it can't be emptied. Check you haven't got too many heavy items in there. Also they have been placing stickers on peoples bins for ages and this would have been the opportunity then to advise of this problem of others loading up peoples bins. And if you see someone doing this while out walking why not be a good citizen and take down their rego number and report it to the council yourself? I know I would

When walking my dog on Sunday nights I usually see one or two people (once even a person in a ute) going around the Avon loop filling up other people bins. What happens when it is not the bin 'owners' fault that they are overfull - and yet they are penalised?? Do they have to wait until right on 6am to put the bins out? Get up in the middle of the night to check? Surely a warning first, so each person is aware and then ratepayers can report illegal dumping in their bins to a help line perhaps?