[LINK] Surveillance in extremis

[Marghanita da Cruz]

Geoff Ramadan wrote:
> 
> Marghanita da Cruz wrote:
> 
>> Just received a report from a source who has one of the RFID'd bins in 
>> their yard...
...I should have said three RFID'd bins in their Garden.
>>
>> the story has now appeared in the local paper relating the tag to 
>> weighing the garbage.
>>
>> Apparently the bins have the address stuck on in big letters, a little 
>> disk and a little wheelie thing and it is on the Garbage, Recycling 
>> (all types) and Green (garden only?) waste bins. [Geoff care to tell 
>> us how to recognise a RFID?]
> 
> 
> 1) Originally the bins that have been ordered with RFID tags have been 
> using Low Frequency (125 or 134.2KHz) glass encapsulated type tags 
> (about 23mm long and 3mm in diameter) which have been inserted INSIDE 
> the handle.
> 
> 2) From your description above, the "little disk" is probably the RFID 
> tag (typically 20 to 50 mm in diameter and about 3 to 5 mm thick, and 
> probably has a hole int he middle). Are there any markings on the "disk"?
> 
...this is going to be a demonstration of a picture worth a thousand 
words...but here goes..from the verbal description I received (via a 
telephone after my source went out and inspected the bins)

there is a little white disk thing and another thing which she managed 
to slip her finger under and twirl, on the side of the bin a couple of 
inches from the top.

>>
>> stories also floating around of cameras on trucks checking whether the 
>> garbage is acceptable (recycle stuff isn't contaminated) and my guess, 
>> tagging the photo with the RFID.
> 
> 
> This would be correct.
> 
> The pick up arm would also have a load cell installed to weigh the bins.
> 
...an interesting aside on this is the rejection of bins. - in the 
aforementioned report there was also a reference to a the camera 
rejectina  a bin as the explanation why a bin had not been emptied-- 
however, this turned out not to be the case

On a slight asside, in Hamburg the recycling works on a community basis 
(which it does NSW too - as currently the cost of waste disposal is 
distributed amongst all ratepayers...in my view disproportionately to 
Strata ratepayers- but that is offlink). However, in Hamburg the 
residents in the community have to collectively address the problem of 
their waste if it is contaminated....obviously this won't work for 
people moving out of the area and dumping their stuff...but would for 
those who wish to continue to live in the community.

Unfortunately, I doubt if any of these social pressures and transparent 
governance mechanisms are in play in the Garbage Management in 
Australia. I am guessing that the purchase of bins with RFIDs is just 
another poorly governed procurement of ICT.

Marghanita
-- 
Marghanita da Cruz
Ramin Communications
http://www.ramin.com.au
Phone: 0414-869202
Email: marghanita at ramin.com.au