The Trash Police, They Live Inside Of My Bin

Government intrusion breeds more government intrusion, even in the silliest circumstances. Case in point—a new British proposal to charge people by weight for how much garbage they throw out is being supplemented by microchips that will monitor the trash bins.

Once weighed, a bill for the waste would be sent to the owner.

Local authorities do not yet have the power to use the chips to charge people but have started introducing them in the expectation that they will be used.

The Mail on Sunday reported that an estimated 25,000 chips had been removed by disgruntled residents in Bournemouth.

The chips are intended to make it easier to charge the right homeowner for his refuse. So how to prevent neighbors from dumping their trash, clandestinely, in another bin? There's probably an upgrade in the works to take care of that.