Outrage Over 'Secret Bugs' In Rubbish Bins - Evening Express

by Lynn Kernan and David Ewen, Evening Express

Secret electronic bugs have been fitted to thousands of household recycling boxes.

The Evening Express can reveal Aberdeenshire Council boxes have devices that can be used to keep tabs on their use.

The penny-sized chips are found under the lip of the lids.

And residents have been told nothing about them.

But the chips - which can tell authorities how many people are using the recycling service - have not been activated by the council so far.

However, MSPs and members of the public have been angered by the prospect.

Today West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles described the move as "absolutely outrageous".

The Liberal Democrat said: "It's an appalling situation where people have not been informed so a debate can ensue."

He accused his party colleagues in the council's administration of breaking Liberal principles.

SNP Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson, who has studied the technology being used, said: "It's very Big Brother and the fact they've not told the public they are doing this is an ominous sign of how much we can trust Aberdeenshire Council with our data."

Newmachar mum Yvonne McCrum was speechless when she turned her black recycling box upside down and saw the "world tag".

She said: "There was nothing in the information about that. The council was quick enough to give us information about how taking the tops off of bottles and taking the paper off of cans - but didn't tell us anything about this.

"If the council has nothing to hide why weren't we told."

A council spokesman said no monitoring of recycling was taking place - but did not rule it out in future.

He said: "No firm decision has yet been made."

The spokesman stressed information could not be linked to any individual house.

Each chip has a unique serial number which would allow waste bosses to know where recycling was taking place.

The spokesman said: "The boxes purchased by Aberdeenshire Council do have chips moulded into them as standard, but in Aberdeenshire the chips are not being used.

"The chips are capable of being used to record the number of boxes that are being used for recyclate collection but do not hold personal data, nor can boxes be linked to specific households.

"What they do allow waste management authorities to do is get figures for the number of boxes being presented for collection on particular rounds."

The radio frequency identification (RFID) chip transmits a signal which could be read by a counter on a collection vehicle, allowing the recycling rates to be measured.

But today residents expressed their concern at not being warned.

Yvonne, who lives in Newmachar's Station Road, added: "It is bad enough they know what goes into our black boxes, never mind anything else.

"It seems to me like they are spying on us."

Ron McKail, a retired teacher who lives on Westhill's Brimmond Drive and is chairman of the local residents association, said: "If they are going to put a chip in and keep a note of things then I would like to know about it."

Ellon householder Mary Curran said: "It makes you feel very suspicious, like it's Big Brother watching.

"I will be furious if they start checking how people are using their bins and livid if they start sending out fines because I know lots of people aren't using them because of the hassle."

Inverurie resident Patricia Cowling branded the council "cheeky" for failing to tell householders about the chip. She said: "I heard that they were doing this sort of thing abroad and maybe down south but not here."

The council spokesman defended the decision not to inform residents.

He said: "The system is not active and no personal data would be held on the chip."

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Drink-related liver disease deaths rising - The Herald

by ALAN MacDERMID, the Herald

The death toll from drink-related liver disease in Scotland has risen by nearly 60% in eight years, the biggest increase of any alcohol-related disease during this period.

Figures released by the Scottish Parliament show a huge rise in alcohol-related deaths overall between 1998 and 2005, but the comparison has been distorted by the inclusion after 2004 of a number of fatal illnesses - including certain oesophageal cancers.

They were running at record levels in Lanarkshire, Lothian, Argyll and Clyde, and Fife health board areas.

In 1990 there were 657 alcohol-related deaths in Scotland. By 1997, the annual toll reached 1061. By 2000 the death toll stood at 1292, hitting a record 1525 in 2003 before dipping to 1478 the following year.

In 2005, the figure again increased and stood at 1513, according to statistics given to SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson in response to a parliamentary question.

Other figures showed heroin and morphine deaths have increased by 35% since 1999 and totalled 225 in 2004. In 1996 the total was just 84.

There were similar increases in deaths involving the drug ecstasy, which claimed nine lives in 1996 but 17 in 2004. Deaths involving amphetamines also went up, from five in 1996 to 10 in 2004.

Greater Glasgow was the area worst afflicted by drink-related deaths, with 376 last year. Lothian Health Board area had 221 drink-related deaths last year while the then Argyll and Clyde Health Board had 177, Lanarkshire 184 and Fife 76.

SNP Shadow Health Minister Shona Robison said: "The fact that so many people are dying from drink as well as drug-related deaths should come as a stark warning that we have a lot of work still to do to combat Scotland's drink and drugs problems."

Tory health spokeswoman Dr Nanette Milne said: "Society has clearly changed over the past two decades and we now see women drinking as much as men. Sadly, this would suggest that the executive's strategy to tackle alcohol abuse isn't making any real impact on the problem."

An executive spokesman said: "We are well aware of Scotland's problems with alcohol. That is why we have a range of work under way to try and tackle the causes and consequences of alcohol misuse."
Categories [Health and Community Care]
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Scottish alcohol deaths double - Glasgow Evening Times

Scots drink-related deaths have more than doubled in the last 15 years, figures revealed today.

In 1990 the country saw 657 alcohol-related fatalities but that number had risen to 1513 by last year.

Greater Glasgow was the worst affected with 376 deaths last year.

In 1998 the figure was 319 - and during the intervening years the death toll was higher, reaching 406 in 2003.

Lothian health board had 221 drink-related deaths last year, the then Argyll & Clyde health board had 177, Lanarkshire 184 and Fife 76.

Heroin and morphine deaths in Scotland have increased by 35% since 1999 and totalled 225 in 2004, according to statistics given to SNP MSP Stewart Stevenson in response to a parliamentary question.

In 1996 the total was just 84.

There were similar increases in deaths involving the drug ecstasy, which claimed nine lives in 1996 but 17 in 2004.

Deaths involving amphetamines also went up, from five in 1996 to 10 in 2004.

SNP shadow health minister Shona Robison said: "The fact more people are dying from drink as well as drug-related deaths should come as a stark warning that we have a lot of work still to do."
Categories [Health and Community Care]
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