Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Bi-Weekly bin collections coming to Harringay
With bi weekly rubbish collections coming our way this summer, Liberal Democrat politicians in parts of the borough where it's already operating have been making it known that they strongly oppose fortnightly waste collections and have called for an urgent review of the changes to the service.
But the Labour-led council says it has no plans to review the bin collections and claim that most people in the borough have responded positively to the changes.
The move, which is expected to save the council £900,000 per year, aims to encourage more people to recycle. Garden and food waste is still collected weekly.
The changes, which include replacing small green recycling boxes with large wheelie bins, were introduced to the west of the borough at the beginning of March.
Tags for Forum Posts: fortnightly waste collections, new recycling bins, rubbish, veolia, waste collection
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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I'll continue speaking up and speaking out, Justin.
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Permalink Reply by Neville Collins on
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Hi, Alan, you are probably the ONLY Labour councillor to recognise that the new system isn't working. Veolia can only take part of the blame, they're only doing what the council tells them to do. Recycling in neighbouring Islington, where I work, is light years ahead of Haringey. Rates are higher, but weekly refuse collections are being retained. There are co-mingled as well as food recycling bins on housing estates. I, as part of the cleansing staff, had to help posting leaflets to tell residents there of any waste changes, so even those in so-called refusnik households could eventually change their habits.
As is being quoted earlier, the new policy has been poorly thought out, received little publicity, and its roll out has been badly managed. It's going to cost taxpayers more to sort out any problems that will occur as a result.
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Neville, just to clarify. I haven't said the new system "isn't working".
I'm worried, of course. But I simply don't have enough evidence from the "roll-out" in the west of the borough to make broad judgements about the changes so far.
As I explained, one reason is that, if there has been a detailed evaluation and learning as the new waste arrangements are introduced, it has not been widely shared with "backbench" councillors.
But I'm very willing to learn. Perhaps you'd like to give a few examples of streets where there are significant problems. And if possible email me contact details of people I can talk to? I'll head-off on the bus with my camera at the ready!
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Permalink Reply by Tom Hamshere on
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I'm all for encouraging recycling, but why not do it through legislation rather than obscure efforts like this one? San Francisco is currently recycling almost 75% of household waste as a result of enshrining food waste and general recycling in law. They are planning on being a zero-landfill city by 2020. Where are we going to be? Still politely asking people to recycle if they wouldn't mind awfully while our streets fill with rubbish?
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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To generalise a bit - Americans obey civic laws whereas we don't. Americans will not cross the road against a " Don't Walk " sign. We take it as a a challenge to our individuality.
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Permalink Reply by JJ B on
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Since you ask...if you speak french... look at the comprehensive guide for residents and businesses put together by the grouping of communes (equivalent of our boroughs) that includes St Denis, a diverse and somewhat deprived area of the Paris region. I find ithat it is very weel put together. And the full range of services makes it easier for someone who wants to recycle and cooperate to do so!
http://ville-saint-denis.fr/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2011-0...
And Veolia is the conteracted operator. In some of the towns they have started to install vacuum colletcions as you willl also see in some areas of Barcelona and Madrid.
But P.S. - France is NOT a good example for the UK to follow where as targets are concerned (if I may say so myself as a frenchie!). It would be better to look more to the north European cousins!
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Permalink Reply by Michael Anderson on
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I'm writing a supporter but I have grave concerns.
Even with a weekly collection I see overflowing bins next to empty recycling boxes in my street - I doubt if any of the other Ladder streets are any different. I worry that without proper engagement and education the green wheelies will just end up full of mixed waste and undermine the entire recycling effort.
Push the date back on this and really work with local people to make it a success.
And a warning for Haringey Labour councillors. Local Elections are won and lost on rubbish and street cleaning. If this goes wrong I can see the Lib Dems romping across from the west of the borough in 2014.
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People are stupid and lazy. We have three bins ( for 8 flats Mrs finch :) ) and the one nearest the door is often full and overflowing while the furthest away ( six feet away ) is empty. How can you engage with and educate people who just don't care ?
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I've forwarded your comment to Labour Councillors, Michael.
(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)
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Permalink Reply by Zena Brabazon on
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Hi Michael
I share a lot of your worries about this - both as a councillor for St. Ann's ward and as a Tottenham resident. The success of the rollout depends crucially on community education and engagement, and in Harringay, St. Ann's and all Tottenham wards this is a massive task. I've been told there will be a local audit of properties and a vigorous door-knocking campaign in Harringay and St. Ann's. However, given the seemingly relentless increase in HMOs (courtesy of government changes regarding permitted development) and the churn of population, this is a continuous process and one which needs to be sustained and maintained. I thought Neville's comment on Islington's use of street sweepers was interesting in regard to this and will forward that to Nilgun and the relevant officers to follow up.
So alongside the door knocking, we need to communicate with the lettings agents, the landlords, (and not just the good ones) and the estate agents, and be prepared to enforce rigorously and to the full extent of our powers if people and/or landlords don't comply after the system has been explained to them.
Regarding the food bins we have been told that these are very robust and can be sealed completely and also that residents will be given an initial 6 month supply of compostable food waste bags. The obvious question then is, what happens when the 6 months is up especially with regard to HMOs and the transient population.
At the Area Committee last week Nilgun told us there was an evaluation being conducted on the roll-out in Muswell HIll. I know no more about it except that one is happening - I hope it gives us some insights and learning points for this phase of the roll-out. I will be asking for more detailed information.
I know Alan has circulated your comment on the political aspects of this so won't comment anymore on that as we know rubbish is the top issue for many people and must be got right!!
Zena Brabazon
Cllr, St. Ann's Ward
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It's great to get such thoughtful engagement from Zena and Alan - where art thou Harringay ward councillors and what's your opinion?
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Hi, Zena, Alan, yourself, and the rest of the councillors on both sides of the chamber need to put as much pressure as possible on your colleague Cllr Canver to either halt or reverse these changes until local people can be consulted extensively. The sort of problems were forseen long before the plans were (ill)thought up. As in well known, large areas of Tottenham are complete dumping grounds. The fortnightly service would, in a worse-case scenario, would make things worse.
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