MORE fun and games with the garbage collection at Harcombe.

We have been uncharacteristically organised in sorting out our garbage into the correct containers but were not issued with a separate black box for aluminium cans. We do not tend to eat tinned food ourselves but five cats and Lily the lurcher get through a goodly quantity each week and there are also a few beer and soft drink containers.

These Malcolm meticulously crushes by driving the tractor over them (an interesting sight) and we have been leaving them out on garbage day in a clean dustbin of our own.

This had not been collected for several weeks and enquiries to the Cotswold District Council revealed that anything not in the regulation receptacle would not be taken. We could, however, it was suggested, mix the cans with the bottles in one of the black boxes and the collectors would sort them out.

Excuse me? Why have we been painstakingly separating garbage if it’s going to be mixed together again, only to be sorted out later?

Having keep our cool and explained to the nice CDC receptionist (it’s not her fault) that one black box would not be sufficient to hold two weeks worth of empty bottles and cans, we were promised that an extra box would be delivered.

A week later there was still no box and finally we went to Cirencester to collect one.

The garbage men are due to call tomorrow and we await their arrival with bated breath.

Meanwhile, I read that the government has told local authorities that families who overfill their garbage bins should face bigger fines than if they get drunk or go shoplifting. If there’s a better incentive for fly tipping (not to mention boozing or stealing), I have yet to hear it.