Proposal to collect bins every three weeks sparks concern

Opposition councillors slam council survey which asks residents if they’d be happy to have their general waste collected every 21 days, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Haringey bins — Wheelie bins in Haringey

Opposition councillors have raised concerns over possible council cuts to waste collections – including a proposal to collect black bins just once every three weeks.

Warning overflowing bins are “already too common”, Liberal Democrat councillors called on Haringey Council to state clearly how it will ensure the problems do not get worse if any reductions to collections do go ahead.

An ongoing council survey on waste and cleansing services, due to end on 29th January, asks residents whether they agree with changing collections for general, non-recyclable waste from the current fortnightly rate to once every three weeks.

It also asks whether residents agree with providing fortnightly mixed dry recycling collections or keeping the current weekly service. The council says it wants an “honest and mature conversation” and will not necessarily take the proposals forward.

Scott Emery, Lib Dem spokesperson for the environment, said: “Bin and recycling collections are a vital service – the only contact many of our residents have with the council. We all want to see a reduction in waste, but any proposals to reduce the frequency of collections will be concerning to many.

“Bins overflowing or becoming infested with maggots are already too common at the current collection rate, and the council needs to be clear on how it will ensure these problems don’t get worse if these proposals are adopted.

“We are also alarmed by how the council’s survey has been written, with many leading and unclear questions, asking respondents to agree with seemingly generic statements which make passing references to less frequent collections or increasing the number of recycling bins. Responses to this badly designed survey should not be used as evidence for less frequent bin collections.”

Other suggestions put forward in the survey include providing smaller general waste bins, fortnightly garden waste collections and issuing fines for “contaminating recycling” by putting the wrong items in the bins.

Seema Chandwani, cabinet member for tackling inequality and resident services, said waste and street cleansing “needs to be driven by service users and not public servants or consultants”.

Cllr Chandwani added: “It’s right that we have an honest and mature conversation, and present how waste services are delivered in other boroughs so residents can really explore the pros and cons of such initiatives in an open and transparent way.

“It has been clear to most that it does not mean we are taking all, some or any of these initiatives forward.

“All who have engaged have given deep thought and consideration to the challenges to tackling the levels of waste we produce and what would work in our borough. They have also presented their own initiatives and ideas we can look at.

“This is the first stage in a long process, starting with listening to users of the services, presenting a range of considerations and trusting their capabilities to give a well thought through judgement based on their perspective and lived experience.

“It’s been exciting and very insightful to hear the opinions, ideas and thoughts of people in every corner of our borough.”

The waste and cleansing survey is available online:
Visit haringey.gov.uk/environment-and-waste/refuse-and-recycling/shaping-our-waste-and-cleansing-services-survey

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