I suppose there's got to be a first time

Since January 2011 I have been collecting recyclable rubbish from the streets and placing in a green bag so it may be recycled- this because of the council's policy of dumping everything that isn't in a green bag straight into landfill. In the last four years I have filled over 200 bags to bursting, making a total that nears 2 tonnes.


People often ask me what I am doing, and I give them my little spiel. Usually they say "Good for you" or something like that and then I continue with my work. My "remit" also sees me delving into the black bins that inhabit our streets, as many people fail to discriminate what can be recycled and what can't and simply dump the whole lot into the black bin- and thence to landfill.


This morning as I was tapping a rich vein of recyclable material in a bin a young man emerged from his flat.
"What the fuck are you doing in my bins mate?"
"I--"
"I said what the fuck are you doing"
"Well--"
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"OK, let me explain--"
"No, just fuck off out of here before I break your fucking face."
The man started to make very aggressive noises and scowling at me in a most intimidating manner. Finally I threw what I had in my hands back into the bin and slammed the lid as hard as I could.
"There. And now I'm fucking off, right?"
And I did, expecting at any moment for him to chase me down the street and give me a good kicking. But no, he returned to his flat and doubtless continued sucking on his can of strong lager, which judging from the contents of his bin was his staple diet.


Some may argue that I am taking a chance my looking into people's bins, though I would imagine the law is a little vague in such an area as things left out in the street. But I never thought it might place me in danger of violence. What I would fear most would be a blow to my left eye post corneal transplant, or damage to my expensive dental work. And maybe I will run out of luck one day and get the hiding some people seem to think I deserve. But (that gentleman's flat being an exception) I will continue my campaign. I think it's too important to stop.