A SINGLE mum says she is being discriminated against in a council recycling scheme because she lives in a flat.
Keen gardener Juliet Ede is angry at Newport council's refusal to give her an orange-top garden waste recycle bin while many of her Allt-yr-yn neighbours are entitled to them.
And she has described the council's policy to exclude those who live in flats as "idiotic and short-sighted".
"Just because some people live in flats does not mean they do not have gardens," said 27-year-old Ms Ede, who rents a privately-owned flat at Oakfield Road.
"My garden is bigger than some of my neighbours and they are getting these bins simply because they live in a house.
"I love gardening but I am currently having to rely on other people to help me dispose of my garden rubbish.
"My mother lives down the road and because she is in a flat she has the same problem.
"I also know some other neighbours in similar predicaments." Ms Ede, who lives with her four-year-old son Charlie, said she was disappointed to be left out when the bins were delivered three weeks ago. She repeatedly contacted the council to request one but said she was told flat occupants would not be considered for the scheme until after the summer.
"That's not any good - it's now that they are most needed," she said. "People who actively want these bins should have priority over people who cannot be bothered to send their forms back."
Chris Seal, a spokesman for the council's recycling programme, said the council had limited funding for the orange bin scheme and bought 20,000 bins.
He said: "The most effective way of getting the most people onto the scheme was to offer it to houses only.
"Each flat would have to be evaluated by our refuse collectors to see if the bins could be stored. Ms Ede and other Newport flat owners will be part of the scheme next year.
"There are other options for composting at home. Newport residents can get a discounted home composting bin from Straight Recycling on 0845 307 4418."
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