Busybodies at work.
But there’s a clear upside to the technology, said Michael Kanellos, editor in chief of GreenTech Media.
“By tagging bins, haulers can weigh garbage, and weighing brings accountability. Consumers that diligently recycle will likely become eligible for rebates in some jurisdictions,” he wrote recently. “Conversely, those who throw away excessive amounts of trash may face steeper tariffs in the future … recycling, meanwhile, will go from being something that gives the consumer peace of mind to a way to reduce household bills.”
NO. Leave us alone. Excuse me if I don’t see that as upside. Where is the rebate money going to come from? It can’t be created out of thin air. It has to be taken from the other set of people who do not abide by these rules. It isn’t going to be from the “steeper tariffs” because that tax money will be spent on other things, as we have seen so often.
We’re never going to break this mindset that insists government knows best if we don’t draw a line in the sand on crap like this.
“I believe these RFIDs are using technology to violate our Fourth Amendment rights of search and seizure,” she said. “The community should have the right to informed consent.”
Informed consent? So if the “community” votes and decides it’s okay to do this, then there is no constitutional violation? Wrong! That is tyranny of the majority.
Frank was skeptical about the future potential exploitation of the RFID trash collection data, and questioned whether the next step might be to attach a GPS receiver to bins to see where residents put them and how they are used. Lewis wondered whether a city might use trash collection data for other, more invasive purposes.
Current limitations on using this mechanism to snoop further is a floor, not a ceiling. Put another way, the snooping will expand.
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