If your bin wasn't emptied this week...

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Permalink Reply by John D on February 6, 2009 at 11:33

Bin men just came down Wightman.

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Permalink Reply by Caroline on February 6, 2009 at 12:21

Thanks Liz; there have been two occaisions since Christmas when my bin hasn't been emptied and I was starting to feel a little paranoid. I think that problem with my bin is that all it ever contains is cat litter and coal ash and it is therefore too heavy for the bin men to be bothered with.

I was looking at the bucket of ash this morning and wondering if it might be an answer to our gritting problems ....

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on February 9, 2009 at 14:12

Can I please ask for some help?

As a local councillor, since the snowstorm I've had a number of complaints from residents about the refuse and recycling services.

None of the people contacting me were unreasonable. Without exception they accepted that the heaviest snow for eighteen years would completely mess-up normal waste collection arrangements. They knew a lot of roads were impassable by the refuse trucks. They guessed that many staff couldn't get to work; or were out gritting streets.

So far, so understandable. But while sympathetic about the impact of the problem, they criticised the speed of recovery from the problem. They saw as too slow. They thought that the Council and Haringey Enterprise should have 'bounced back' more quickly and efficiently.

People complained about a lack of information. They said the Call Centre couldn't give them reliable information about changed refuse collection days; nor when recycling boxes would be taken. Some information was posted on the website. But not everybody has an Internet connection.

People have said that, as a result, more wheeled bins were left out on pavements. And that many streets had - maybe still have - more dumping than usual.

It seems likely that we'll have more 'extreme weather events' in the future. So I've suggested to my colleagues that the Council Waste Management Service and Enterprise need to learn from this; and be better prepared for next time.

How accurate, fair, or unfair are these criticisms? I'm assuming many HoL members travel and work in different parts of London. And have family and friends elsewhere who've been comparing notes with you. How well has Haringey done? Have you any suggestions or good ideas from other places for improvement?

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 9, 2009 at 14:25

Alan, I am just about to write to various people asking why a week later the bins on Warham have not been emptied nor the recycling cleared. As you say, it is not the fact that bins couldn't be collected, it is the fact they still haven't been that is not acceptable. Have you had a response from Enterprise as to their reasons?

Given the fact that the bin men resumed on Wed (and the weather did not worsen again), and were working overtime apparently, I cannot understand why the bins are full. As you can imagine, bags of waste are beginning to appear in all the usual places. The info on the website implied that things would be taken care of unless adverse weather conditions hit again...well they didn't but the bins are overflowing.

Yes, I would love to know if the bins of Camden, Islington and Hackney are overflowing as they are in Haringey. Please let us know...

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on February 9, 2009 at 15:01

As you know, Liz, I sent my Inquiry yesterday (8 February) at 4pm. So I wasn't expecting an immediate reply.

Anyway, far more important than replying to me, is the need for Waste Management and Haringey Enterprise to draw up a Snowday Emergency Plan. This should incorporate everything they've learned - whether from events in Haringey or the experience of other local authorities.

To be fair, this morning all Haringey councillors did get an email from Cllr Haley ("cabinet" member for Silver White Winters and Snow on Eyelashes).
___________________________

"Update regarding waste management services following last week’s interruption to services.

Weather Forecast
There is the possibility of further snow fall this week that could affect refuse, recycling and street cleansing services. Depending on what the weather brings this is the plan for this week.

Street cleansing
The street cleansing service today has been operating as normal. The only special instruction left in place is that where grit has been laid it will not be swept up due to the forecast for more snow.

Refuse collection
Monday, double collection today
Tuesday, normal collection
Wednesday, normal collection
Thursday, normal collection
Friday, double collection

Recycling
There was a limited recycling collection service last week focussed on roads with lowest gradients. This means that some collections were performed on the normal day and some were not. All recycling collections will be performed as per the scheduled day this week so those who did not receive a collection last week will receive a double collection this week.

Salt grit stock
The stock of salt grit currently stands at 400 – 500 tonnes. This is sufficient to deal with further snow and frost provided it is not too prolonged. Back up arrangements are in place should this prove necessary."

______________________________

(This is the fourth email I've had from Cllr Haley, so far this month. And one was actually a personal reply and began "Dear Alan". So I'm hoping the snow has sluiced away that sliver of 'bad' red kryptonite stuck to his shoe.)

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 10, 2009 at 14:52

Have had replies from a local councillor and Dasos re bins but still no sign that the bins are going to get emptied, rubbish is now spilling out of people's bins.

However, the collecting of street rubbish is as prompt as ever. Now this does not make sense. What is to stop people dumping rubbish in the street, then reporting it dumped and getting it taken within 24 hours? The priority should be emptying the bins.

It is looking increasingly like Enterprise are simply not going to collect round here, despite their promises to get the backlog cleared. I'm sorry, but its not good enough.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on February 10, 2009 at 16:10

via questions out on Twitter and Facebook, I've learned that Wandsworth are all back to normal and some parts of Haringey have had bins emptied but not recycling. So what has gone wrong here in Harringay?

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