Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
'NO' to Ending free bulky waste collections and closing the recycling centre
Haringey's current budget proposals will see the end of free bulky and green waste collections and the closure of one of the recycling centres.
These changes are likely to spell real trouble in this borough. It will inevitably lead to a significant increase in dumping with the poorest areas being hardest hit.
Research has shown that introducing a charge can lead to a drop in demand for collections of 50-75% on previous levels. Fly-tipping will increase as a result.
An alternative approach to introducing a collection charge would be to limit or reduce the number of items accepted for free, and/or the number of free collections allowed per year.
An alternative to closing the recycling centre would be to control who uses the centre and make a small charge as appropriate.
The cabinet meets to decide on this issue in two weeks' time. Whilst the consultation is now closed you can still email the cabinet member responsible (peray.ahmet@haringey.gov.uk) and copy your councillor.
Budget proposals: http://www.haringey.gov.uk/local-democracy/policies-and-strategies/...
Survey (CLOSED 22 JAN): http://www.haringey.gov.uk/survey/budget-2017-18
Tags for Forum Posts: rubbish, waste collection, waste collection charges
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Antoinette on
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Which councillor was that, if you don't mind me asking...
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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It's not my idea. It's an approach that's been used successfully by other councils. Will see if I can dig out the research when I get home. If the Haringey website cites a single example, it suggests to me that they're being highly selective. What do you think happens with that reduced demand?
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I haven't found the research yet, but in looking for it I came across the following from some Southampton University research:
Charging for collection is both an economic tool to reduce demand for the service and a fiscal instrument to recoup costs of service provision. The principal arguments for free collections are a lower incidence of fly-tipping and social equality – the service being centrally funded rather than based on an ability to pay. The views of council waste managers provide evidence to back these explanations:
“It is current council policy not to charge [ie the decision is outside the control of the waste department]. We used to charge but it was more expensive to deal with the resulting fly-tipping than just collect bulky items free.” (Kirklees Metropolitan Borough Council).
“We introduced charges to get money – it wasn’t paying.” (Bedford Borough Council).
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Many thanks, Hugh.
When Veolia first came to Haringey, some councillors - including me at the time - had this discussion with two of their senior staff.
They identified as a problem - and therefore as a potential saving - the money spent on waste trucks and staff driving around to pick up dumped waste on the streets. Plus of course the cost of the reporting system needed.I'll put aside time today to read the Southampton research carefully. Anyone finding more useful stuff online, please share it.
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The relevant page on Newham's website says:
"We need to make significant savings. During our recent Budget Challenge consultation residents told us that bulky waste collections is an area where we could make savings.
The average local authority cost in London for a bulky waste collection is £43. We will charge £20 and residents can still take items to Jenkins Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre free of charge.
The charge is being introduced on a trial basis for one year. All money will go into providing bulky waste collections. We will not make any profit from the charge."Thanks, Alex, for flagging-up the comment in Haringey's budget papers which - as you spotted - refers to Newham having "no discernible increase in fly-tipping". However I couldn't see any link to a Newham report which gives the 70% figure or its basis. In any case I'm cautious about fly-tipping figures since they are usually taken from a Government database which, the last time I checked, still counted as a flytip everything from a single dumped bag to a vast pile of rubbish.
What I do have is a collection of dated photos in my own neighbourhood taken since 2005. The worst are posted on Flickr. Though I can't make a statistical claim, my impression is that there have been distinct and changing phases. Different patterns over time. My current impression - for what it's worth - is that Haringey is going backwards. Though perhaps not yet to the point shown in my Dirty Dozen collection.
Charging isn't the only causal factor of course.
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Permalink Reply by Jan H on
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Thank you Hugh. I had missed this too and am dismayed to read these proposals. I live in a street that is constantly dumped in by all sorts of household rubbish. This is now, I do help by reporting it. But what will it be like once this goes through?! And I'll bet it will. My street in Hornsey wasn't swept for 8 weeks before Christmas and now has restarted as litter picking only, which is patchy to say the least. Haringey have problems with funding we all know but there must retain a recycling service with some bulk pick ups so that fly tipping doesn't accelerate. And a street cleaning system that is workable. I do my little bit and have swept outside my house and pick up rubbish daily. But most people don't. We must show the next generation that we care about this and have clean community areas.
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I agree. Reduce it if they must, but don't abandon it. Do write in. Every email helps.
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"We must show the next generation that we care about this ..."
Jan H, I'm so glad you mentioned this."Teach your children well.."But it seems that our rulers - local and national - find it easy to forget that the streets are also a "classroom" with "a hidden curriculum". (Please click on the photo to read my original comment, and one from Liz Ixer.)
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Permalink Reply by Maddy on
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Meanwhile, in a more civilised European country http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/sweden-s-recycling-is-so-r...
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Maddy, I always thought Sweden's rubbish recycling agency was called IKEA - no?
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That recycling centre wont stay open very long, not when the private devolopment vehicle/company realise that its bringing down the prices of the 'Luxury' flats theyll be selling next door. We'll all have to go to Islington.
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Permalink Reply by Finsbury Park Ranger on
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I really close to it and it's a real asset. None of the locals would want it gone. To be able to walk stuff to the 'dump' and and back in mins in a bonus.
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