MP Blasts New Garden Waste Arrangements

Slaughter says scheme will put people off recycling

Local MP Andy Slaughter says he is already getting complaints about the new arrangements for garden waste due to start next month.

The service will introduce weekly collections on a Monday but residents will have to pre-order and pay for refuse bags.

Mr. Slaughter said, "I am getting complaints already about this - people either won't bother or will flytip or try and mix it in with their ordinary refuse. And the process is so bureaucratic - it must cost a fortune and is designed to put people off - so much for recycling."

The council say that they will be providing a more 'personalised ' kerbside garden waste recycling service. The move is in contrast to the changes introduced by neighbouring Ealing Council who have scrapped charges for garden refuse sacks.

The service will begin on Monday 2 April and run until Monday 3 December, with weekly collections taking place on a Monday for faster collection of waste resulting from any gardening carried out over the weekend.

To be included in the collection service throughout the season, residents will be required to register (once only) at no cost. A charge of £6 will be made for each roll of 25 biodegradable sacks, with deliveries taking place directly to residents, once payment has been received. However, unlike deliveries of orange recycling sacks, a signature will be required as proof of delivery. To accommodate residents who cannot be in to accept deliveries during normal working hours therefore, it will be possible to arrange for evening or weekend deliveries.

Supplies of garden waste sacks will no longer be available from libraries or from other collection points throughout the borough, as they were in previous years.

Although residents having biodegradable sacks remaining from last year’s service may use them up before ordering new sacks, they will still need to register so that we know they will be placing out sacks for collection. Payment will only be required for new sacks purchased in 2007. Purchase of sacks can be made by credit or debit card (either by calling the borough hotline or online via the council’s website payment facility). Alternatively, it will be possible for payments to be made in person at the Cashiers’ Offices located either at Hammersmith or Fulham Town Hall.

As in previous years, garden waste will be collected for recycling only if it is placed in the special council-supplied biodegradable sacks, which are made of an environmentally friendly starch based material that breaks down naturally during the composting process.

Sacks intended for collection should be placed in residents' front garden where they are clearly visible from the street, or on the kerbside directly outside their property, by 10am on collection days.

March 21, 2007