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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Join with your neighbours to help fix the bin blight on your street

Over on another conversation, I suggested neighbours working together to make a start on fixing the awful bin blight we've been saddled with. Below is the conversation. Do you want to help out on your street?


Reply by Hugh 2 hours ago
Completely agree about the bin sizes, as I've said several times before. I too changed to smaller bins for both standard and recycling. I too encountered a general organisational reluctance to change over the bins. 
My sense is that if we wait for the Council to fix this, we'll be in for a long wait. Would it take too much for a group of people to organise a switch to smaller/fewer bins locally? If say two people took a handful of roads and agreed to door knock to do the following:
1. Ask if people were aware of the small bin / reduced bin number option.
2. Invite them to order the bin configuration of their choice and take a signed order.
We'd then submit/publish a record of people's awareness / feelings about the new system and a whole set of bin orders.
We would need to check what is and isn't possible and exactly what would be required for the Council to act to act. We'd then go armed with materials illustrating the options and the necessary forms to take people's orders there and then. Houses split into flats would need the consent of all households. HMOs would need some thought.
Too daft for words? 
Reply by Hugo Read 1 hour ago
Not too daft at all Hugh - it's a great idea and something I've been toying with myself. I'm happy to help with Pemberton if I get someone else to do the road with me.
I think what we'd need to establish is the 'rules', if they have any, governing what configurations can and can't be done. Then we could make a form with choices that were feasible. Great idea.
Reply by Hugh 1 hour ago
I'd be happy to help with Hewitt.
Reply by ant 1 hour ago
Count me in on Frobisher.
Reply by Hugh 1 hour ago
So, that's three roads. Even if we only did three roads, that'd be potentially significant. It would be nice if we could find another person to help on each of those roads (and others) via the site. Failing that, I could probably find A N Other offline.
Reply by Hugh 1 hour ago
I could also email all site members from Pemberton, Hewitt and Frobisher with an invite, if necessary.
Reply by Hugo Read 1 hour ago
 
Yes, I think we need two people per road. Why don't we try to do it properly though and design a mini questionnaire/form based on feasible options and try and get two people from at least say a dozen roads. I'm happy to help with a questionnaire but I can't do it until October probably. This month is pretty crazy.
Reply by Hugh 58 minutes ago
Yes absolutely do it properly - what I meant by "We would need to check what is and isn't possible and exactly what would be required for the Council to act to act. We'd then go armed with materials illustrating the options and the necessary forms to take people's orders there and then."
October sounds sensible.
Reply by Alison P 24 minutes ago
 
I'd be happy to help with Seymour. October better for me too.

Tags for Forum Posts: new recycling bins, veolia

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on September 7, 2012 at 12:35

Seems like an excellent idea to me, Hugh. Street-level problem-solving.

My only small suggestion is that you and other people try to link directly with Veolia and Haringey's own waste management and recycling staff. I'm confident they'd be up for it - if allowed to.

As I've often suggested "the Council" isn't a single entity with a hive-mind. Although I realise it can easily feel like it when sensible ideas are blocked or rejected for no obvious reason.

If this experiment works then it might be a helpful model for other small areas with active residents' associations; and where people are in favour of increased recycling but not the walls of plastic.

(Tottenham Hale ward councillor)

Permalink Reply by John McMullan on September 7, 2012 at 21:18

The trouble is Alan, no politicians around here have the courage to take out a few parking spaces and put communal bins in. If I had the option of communal bins I would take it, as would many other people who prefer to use their front gardens to chat to their neighbours.

Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on September 8, 2012 at 12:57

As I see it, John, the issue isn't having the "courage" to insist on adopting one favoured solution. It's having the curiosity to examine different possible solutions. And that has to include getting reliable information about solutions tried elsewhere. Then testing them in Haringey locations in full public gaze.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on September 7, 2012 at 13:38

Yes, including broken bins is a good idea. It'll be interesting to see what %ge of properties request some sort change to their existing equipment.

He may have said he can't accept your form, but I can't see any basis for such a refusal. If there is an offer to replace broken bins, as long as the request is verifiable (e.g. a signed request), I can see no defensible reason for them to refuse. I'm sure the Council would ask them to comply. 

All this type of thing could be ironed out beforehand.

Permalink Reply by pipplypig on September 7, 2012 at 14:19

Hugh - happy to help with Hewitt when needed.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on September 7, 2012 at 20:30
Thanks PP.
Permalink Reply by Hugh on September 7, 2012 at 20:29
I'm sure we can sort this, Pete. (Now back to my Xiao Long Bao !)
Permalink Reply by ant on September 20, 2012 at 12:49

Maybe this is case where its better to ask for forgiveness not for permission?  There are a few bins with broken or missing lids around here so as a test i tried using the councils report a problem page to ask for a new lid to be fitted on one. That page doesn't actually ask if its my bin, and the contact details fields are optional so i left them blank and just filled in the email field so i could see what they replied.  I've just had an email back saying the work has been booked in, giving a job ref number, and saying they should have a replacement lid fitted within 10 days. I'll report back here if i see the bin fixed.

Permalink Reply by ant on October 10, 2012 at 11:16

It worked, the bin has been fixed with a new lid.

Permalink Reply by Charlotte on September 7, 2012 at 20:21

I would be happy to help with Lausanne Road.  Even if we cannot make a request on behalf of multiple residents it would make sense to provide residents with information on the different options available and how to make their request.  I certainly was not aware of the smaller bin option and I hate all the bins in front of my house.  I have a 240 liter recycling bin and managed with two green boxes before.  My bin is still, full but only because I dont bother squashing the plastic bottles etc now.  I suspect the reason they are so keen on rolling out so many bins now is that once the whole borough is stuck with them they will also switch the recycling to bi-weekly and tell us they are doing this to encourage us to generate less refuse.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on September 7, 2012 at 20:31
Sounds like a horribly likely scenario.
I'm sure we can sort the multiple requests issue.
Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on September 8, 2012 at 13:05

"I suspect"

"Horribly likely scenario?"

As you know Hugh, I am not one of Claire Kober's biggest fans. Nor do I endorse the way this scheme has been rolled-in. In my view: too far too fast, with insufficient time for learning, reflection and variation. But isn't it fair to base criticisms not on speculations, but on evidence of what's working poorly, or well?

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