Observer gets to grips with weighty problem

Officially the boxes can only be collected if householders leave them as near as possible to the entrance of their properties.

But a number of mainly-elderly residents like Barbara Johnson, 80, of Bancroft Road, say their uncollected boxes are filling to the brim because they can't haul them that far.

The Observer put that theory to the test this week with the help of Physiques Gym boss and powerlifter John Bowles.

One of the green boxes full of newspaper, like that of Mrs Johnson, weighed in at a hefty four stones or 25 kilos - the weight of a healthy seven-year-old boy.

That's the sort of weight used by semi-pro powerlifters like 19 stone John, 31, to develop his 53 inch chest and 21 inch biceps during gruelling daily workout sessions at the gym.

But while muscleman John easily curls such weights with one arm, it's a bit different for Bexhill's large elderly population.

John said: "It's the sort of weight I'm using every day but it's a heavy weight for any normal person, let alone an 80-year-old woman. You certainly wouldn't want to lift it up a flight of stairs. The council needs to see sense and rethink this policy because it's impractical."

Like all good scientists the Observer conducted a control experiment. A box with containing just 14 newspapers - one for every day of the fortnightly collection cycle - still weighs in at one stone. Even that is a lot of weight for elderly or frail residents to carry over a fair distance.

Many residents are opting to leave the boxes outside their properties permanently rather then haul them out every fortnight. This has led to reports of them being blown away, especially in high winds like we experienced this week.

The Observer applauds the council's efforts in recycling and understands contractors have time constraints.

But if residents can't easily use the recycling facility, they won't bother with it.