To bin or not to bin?
But which bin should I put what in?
The question rings inside my head,
As wearily I go to bed.
Newspapers here with glassware there?
I’m a lefty; it’s just not fair
That neighbors, some of whom are posh,
Might think that I’ve deserted Josh,
Our ALP man, if I over-fill the green.
But if by chance that I am seen
These days to fill the yellow more
In Freo on this south-western shore,
They might think I’m just like them!
Really?   Tomorrow I will join a ‘dem’
To act on climate and euthanasia,
Do my bit for South East Asia.
My friend Tacker, with wagging tail just said,
“Me too! Now go to bed! You daft old red!”

NOTE!    These lines came up for me during the holiday season as I worked on my New Year’s resolution to help Fremantle City Council with their FOGO campaign and their December gift to me as a ratepayer of a Food and Garden Organics bin with a lime green lid..   They also delivered with it an explanation of how to decide what to fill bins with, and even a printed roster of which bins were to be collected when!

The problems I have with this fine new system are about my own late night routine.   My final domestic duty as Tacker and I do our last wee walk outside has always been to bin newspapers and other rubbish.  Now this third bin requiring alternate weekly rotation has proved a bit of a challenge.  Appropriate mnemonics in rhyme have so far eluded me as I try to remember what goes into where and when for collection.

I’ll  have to change to a daylight bin-putting-out on the verge!  That will mean no more pre-bedtime sorties in the dark when the moon or streetlight can help with the colour choice of neighbours.  But bins put out in full day-light seem to invite contributions from passers by!  Do they know that favoured colours flag one’s political leanings?   Will they even notice or care if it is green or red?  This has become an issue for me since I learned that elsewhere in the world the yellow flag is used by so-called ‘liberals.’

Just as well that here in Oz that third bin lid isn’t the colour blue!  I’d better stop these notes before another rhyme comes up about these different hues, cos there’s a memory jogger I can use!  Coalition blues!  Well, then at least I’d have something right!  Now Freo rubbish bins may overflow with newsprint about the NLP and all their ‘sh – – e!’

Thinks:  Stop there, Patricia, ‘polliepomes‘ is for satire, that doesn’t excuse bad language!  Sometimes you rage too much about the things you’ve read……’Nuff said.

PS  If you find the vantage point of my illustration above my pome confusing,  it is intended to be so – to give you some perspective on my nightly dilemna with my porch light behind me.  The green lid for FOGO items instructs me clearly that it wants no glass, no plastics, including bags and no nappies! The red lid bin clearly asks for general waste which can’t be composted, like nappies, polystyrene, rope, hoses and straps.  And the yellow?  That’s for glass, cans,  and……….well read it for yourselves at  Recycle Right  or https://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au/residents/waste-and-recycling/three-bin-fogo-system

PPS 1/02/2020     I forgot to note here to confirm my understanding of their advice about yellow poo bags being compostable and able to be placed in the lime green bin by calling Freo City Council.   To help myself and others who I understand have also had this problem I quote below –

………..The City’s dog bags are compostable and can be placed into the lime green FOGO bin……….Kind Regards,   Roi,  Information request,  Fremantle City Council.

Just between ourselves though, I think I still prefer my own old black compost bin out the back.  It’s helped me grow a lovely green garden over the years.  I’ve told neighbours that they can use my FOGO bin if they need more space and provided they put it out on the appropriate days.  That’s also helped my old head to sort out these existential problems of life down here in the lucky country.

PPPS 12/06/2020 Another perspective, a street-scene view of Freo on my daily walk down towards the sea on nearby Martha Street.   Those bins again, as well as trees and flowers and, of course, the Indian Ocean!  So much to see and marvel at just outside my gate!