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Spy chips hidden in 2.5 MILLION dustbins: 60pc rise in electronic bugs as council snoopers plan pay-as-you-throw tax
Read more: www.dailymail.co.uk...
The growing threat of a stealth tax on the rubbish we throw away was exposed by startling figures yesterday.
More than 2.5million homes now have wheelie bins fitted with microchips to weigh their contents.
But yesterday, research by the Big Brother Watch campaign group showed that the use of chipped bins has quietly spread over the past year.
In March 2009, a survey based on Freedom of Information inquiries showed there were 42 councils which used bins with microchips. But the latest check, also based on FOI requests, put the number of authorities with electronic bins at 68 - one in five of all those that collect household rubbish.
Alex Deane of Big Brother Watch, said: 'The number of local councils placing microchips in bins is increasing, despite the fact that only one of them has volunteered to trial the Government's pay-as-you-throw scheme.
'If local authorities have no intention to monitor our waste then they should end the surreptitious installation of these bin microchips.'
The campaign group complained that the bins allow councils to examine household rubbish and sell the information to commercial concerns as well as to impose taxes.
It is not a story about being spyed on, it is all about weighing your garbage. No big whoop.
It also warned that collection of data from chipped bins could show when households were on holiday, opening the way to abuse by criminals.
....
However, in 2008 nearly 100 councils ran investigations into the contents of their residents' bins, in some cases to check on what rubbish they dump and in others to try to obtain information on their incomes and lifestyles.
making sure others are "buying groceries or not with their stamps", or running a meth lab. None of anyone's damn business.
Originally posted by LostNemesis
reply to post by space cadet
I advocate not being spied on, just because some people are paranoid about what their neighbor might or might not be doing!!!
Why end it at spying on our garbage? We should have the government spy, to make sure we're eating healthy. Too many sweets can be bad for us, afterall.
We should have government spy to make sure no one gets the bright idea to fart in an elevator. This can seriously ruin someone else's day.
Maybe we need a government employee with us all hours of the day, to make sure we are only doing what they think we should be doing. Problem solved.
Originally posted by TheComte
Why can't you just vote the knucklehead who's idea it was out of office and end his political career forever? Make it clear to anyone else who ever tries it again that he will meet the same fate. That should do it. Coerce your councils to do what you want by holding their jobs for ransom.
But, it doesn't work if you don't follow through.
It also warned that collection of data from chipped bins could show when households were on holiday, opening the way to abuse by criminals.
....
However, in 2008 nearly 100 councils ran investigations into the contents of their residents' bins, in some cases to check on what rubbish they dump and in others to try to obtain information on their incomes and lifestyles.
I do not advocate spying by the government on us. This is not the man, it is the GARBAGE MAN.