G Bay is in the CT Metro but the rest of us don't get free bags. If readers in other suburbs do, let us know. Should I ask Xanthea Limberg (a 'friend' of yours, Geoff) why we don't? Or is G Bay a favourable exception - is a former ID member the councillor? 
We collect anything that can be recycled and regularly take it to Wynberg. It's a hive of activity. We've reduced the remainder of refuse - organic waste (we should compost) and other bits - to half a wheelie bin a week.
Ten years ago the city mooted introducing recycling wheelie bins they would collect (like garden refuse years ago) as responsible cities overseas do, but I guess it's too expensive. A mechanised refuse truck costs R70K/hour to run (2007 cost) and a couple of million to buy. If we do our bit and reduce household/business waste by recycling - pickers also rummage in bins collection day - we can help reduce landfill space, always a problem, and the cost to ratepayers of refuse collection.