Hot topic: weekly bin collections
Councillors have pledged to maintain weekly bin collections after rubbishing government claims that fortnightly waste collections boost recycling. Do you agree?
A recent survey published by the Press Association found that half the councils surveyed have already introduced fortnightly collections, with up to 15 per cent more either considering or planning a switch to alternate weekly collections.
H&F council has changed its waste service to create one single refuse and recycling day for each household, so that black and orange sacks can be put out together. And it has vowed that all households in the borough will continue to have their refuse collected once a week (except a small number who get two refuse collections a week).
Doretta Cocks, of the Campaign for Weekly Waste Collection, said: “I applaud Hammersmith and Fulham Council's decision to retain weekly general waste collections, a vital tool to protect public health and the local environment. The Council is obviously putting the needs of residents first by maintaining this service.”
“When we ask residents what they want from their council, most say reasonable council tax bills, clean streets and efficient refuse collection. That’s what we are concentrating on providing,” says Cllr Greg Smith, Cabinet Member for Crime and Street Scene.
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Congratulations to all the people who have worked so hard to get the new refuse collection schedule working this week. Faced with a day of thick snow and then icy pavements, our collection still went ahead on Wednesday - as planned. Thank you everyone concerned.
From Martin Monk on 04/02/09
I think it is imperative that refuse collections take place once a week, as most people do not have the facilities to store their rubbish for any length of time and this would lead to fly tipping which already takes place in the borough. To have rubbish lying around for two weeks is not only extremely unsightly, but incredibly unhealthy and smelly, especially during the summer months. With regard to both rubbish and recycling being collected on the same day, I think this is an excellent idea and hopefully will keep our streets looking tidier, as bags will only be present on the pavements on one morning a week in any given area.
From Maryrose Greenham on 25/01/09
The Council needs to encourage more people to recycle more, but it is right to maintain weekly waste collections.
From Rosemary Pettit on 22/01/09
I believe that weekly waste collection is a valuable service provided to the residents of the council. It keeps our streets tidy and it does not hinder the council's efforts to encourage recycling amongst residents.
From Thomas Carey on 22/01/09
On Christmas Eve at about 9am, Smart Sacks were distributed to each house on our street. I really don't think you could have picked a worse time. Delivering these sacks outside each house at a time when most people had just gone away for at least a week seems completely crazy. Perhaps each house that was vacant over the Christmas period could’ve written up their own sign to post on their front door to advertise to all potential burglars wandering past that the house will be vacant until such and such a time. I think you can get the picture. I hope for everyone's sake this is not repeated next year. It is definitely something to bear in mind.
From Dominique Doran on 18/01/09
Page last updated: 08/04/2009
