WASTE DAY: new era for the Borders Le Noveau hi tech bin camion est arrive. And for the folk of Hutton and Paxton (and indeed as far into the far north west as Chirnside) Wednesday marked the dawn of the new age and black bins should have been wheelied out (by 7am) Despite the very complicated instructions-a sort of rocket scientist's handbook-confusion reigned as to what should be put out for the environmental hygenists to take. Bins only it said on page 5. The coloured and clear bin bags for recycling are not to be used until March when the notice of BBFr-C day will be given. Clear so far? But then a note of uncertainty creeps in with a reference to 'once the new collection service has officially started' Today with the black bins? Or 'in March' when the BBFr-C gets off the ground and into the lorry? So if it is hasn't started 'officially' is it still all right to put out extra rubbish with but not inside your black wheelie Bin?. Or does stricture 12c# apply:: Only the 'General Waste Bin will be touched and rubbish left beside it ignored: Only One General Waste Per Household We will see when the gentlemen have ridden by and by what has been left we will know them or rather know whether we have been 'officially started'

On my way back from Duns I passed every variety of refuse awaiting collection : General Waste Bin DSO, MC on his own. Bin Bags, black on their own. The General and his old bag together. Two sad garden chairs,Lilac bags of unknown content. Clear bags of all too evident content. Some with the right sort of recycling, others with bottles-not to be put in clear bags Stricture 234s. One person had put out the new sparkling GWB -lid open to reveal a pristine emptiness and with two neatly tied black bags stacked on either side.

I suspect we will all get the hang of it. Soon? I doubt it.  ¶ 11:17 AM