Lib Dems Claim Ealing Collecting 400 Tonnes Less Green Waste

Call for acceleration in council's programme of leaf sweeping

Councillor Athena Zissimos

February 11, 2025

The Liberal Democrat opposition in Ealing is claiming that over 400 tonnes of garden waste is going uncollected across the borough.

It has obtained figures through a Freedom of Information request of data from the weighbridge used by Greener Ealing, the council contractor, to measure the amount of compostable waste gathered.

This shows that in first eight months of the current financial year up to the end of November, around 2,000 tonnes of waste has been collected. Based on seasonal patterns in previous years the group has estimated that this means an annual total of around 2,600 tonnes will be collected which is 400 tonnes down on the average for the previous three years.

The estimate for the amount gathered this year may be high as the kerbside garden waste collections are now suspended from December through to February. Over the last four years the annual garden waste charge for residents who subscribe to the service has increased from £79 to £95.50 despite the service now only being available for nine months

The Lib Dems are using the data to renew calls for the council to step up the amount of leaf clearance in the borough. They say that during the recent cold snap, many elderly residents have been complaining of the danger on the streets due to upswept leaves and icy pathways. They say they want to see the Council act quicker and in a more focused way to clear leaves from the main shopping streets and residential roads to reduce the danger in the bad weather.

They have set up a petition about the issue which has already been signed by nearly 1,500 over the last few weeks.

Councillor Athena Zissimos, the party's spokesperson for Environment, Streets, Parks and Climate Change, said, “Liberal Democrats are very disappointed that Ealing Labour policy is aimed at penalising responsible householders, Council Tax payers and those who opt to pay for a service rather than providing them with value for money in this economically cold climate. The Council should be encouraging people to reduce and reuse waste as well as making use of people’s garden green waste rather than cutting back on these services like they have with the Acton dump.”

An Ealing Council spokesperson has said, “Over the winter months, Ealing Council’s Household Reuse and Recycle Centres across the boroughs have been accepting garden waste and collected leaves while over 1,100 requests were received from residents for sacks and equipment to assist with leaf clearing. The amount of green waste collected varies each year due to a number of reasons. Garden waste is provided on a subscription basis and is paused during the low growing winter months of December, January (except Christmas tree collections) and February. Other reasons that affect the collection of green waste include the weather, but also whether or not residents subscribe to the green waste collection service, compost at home, or take green waste to a Reuse and Recycling Centre.

“The figures currently being cited are not representative of the actual collection figures. The data for 2024/2025 is not yet complete and it is too early to draw conclusions.”