Weekly bin collection money should go to fund the NHS

I READ your article (Yorkshire Post, October 1) stating that the NHS in Yorkshire has to make savings of £1.5bn.

I noted a second article about the Government’s intention to reinstate weekly refuse collections in place of the present fortnightly collection.

It seems that from somewhere, the Government has managed to find £250m to help this happen.

Although £250m is a drop in the ocean as far as the NHS budget is concerned, I cannot help thinking that the money would be better spent on health. We have wonderful staff operating the NHS but, because of cuts and a lack of funding, the service is deteriorating. In real terms, less is being spent on the NHS. This is where any spare money should be directed.

I believe £250m will not be a sufficient amount of money to restart weekly refuse collections. Yet again we, the taxpayers, will be burdened with those extra costs, namely more vehicles, staff to man them and other ongoing expenditure.

This could mean a reduction in recycling figures, as people will be less watchful about what they throw into the domestic bin because they will have the space available.

What we need is an NHS that meets the needs of the people. So let us have the £250m towards the NHS and stop talking garbage.

From: David H Rhodes, Keble Park North, Bishopthorpe, York.

SO, the latest pronouncement that the return of the weekly bin emptying is a source of great joy – but why?

How many of us really need a weekly service? Everyone appears to have managed on a two-weekly roster unless of course most are dumping their excess rubbish in the countryside.

Before considering this expensive re-introduction, councils should evaluate its necessity by asking residents to apply for additional services if so required.

Those applying should then be subject to a bin inspection to check if all recycling is being applied and the correct contents suitably crushed to maximise the space within the bin.

Only those who totally comply should be offered either a larger bin or a second one to be emptied on the existing collection day.

I suspect that this will adequately cater for any potential problem areas and that the fortnightly clearance will continue to provide a saving to the council’s coffers for more worthwhile projects.

From: David Collins, Westfield Drive, Skelmanthorpe.

THE Government has set aside £250m for reverting to weekly bin collections.

Well my wife and I are quite happy with the present fortnightly collection in our area.

I estimate that the Government owes my wife and I £6.66.

Just put a fiver in a plain envelope and send it to our address and we will call it quits.