rubbish collection
A clever approach to rubbish collection
I am always on the look out for something clever when I am away on holiday, other countries often have a different take on things, a more effective way to deal with a common problem. A couple of years ago we visited a car park in Parma which had bright little LED’s over each space – red meant it was occupied, green it was available. A simple but very elegant solution to a problem.
This year I had not come across anything like this until today in Florence. I have not visited this beautiful city for a couple of years and in my absence they have made quite a few improvements! Much of the area around the Duomo is now pedestrianised, a great improvement. This has given the city the ability to add in new rubbish bin systems – to replace the old ‘wheely bin’ units.
The new system has some very neat and clean hatches that sit over a sunken skip – it is very elegant and doesn’t smell or look a mess – frankly it is brilliant and something that cities in the UK would do well to copy.
Fly-tipping – a social issue?
Harsh words – but well earnt in my opinion! Fly tipping has apparently reduced since 2010 according to recently released figures. But as far as I am concerned as a country lad, any is too much.
Local authorities in England have reported that they had dealt with nearly 820,000 incidents of fly tipping in 2011, with 63 percent of these incidents classified as ‘household waste’. This represents a drop of 13 percent since 2010, allegedly since local authorities have increased their enforcement of prosecutions for fly tipping incidents – although more on that later.
In 2011, there were 2,409 prosecutions of waste offenders by local authorities, with 96 percent of these resulting in conviction; most often resulting in a fine. Now on the face of it that sounds quite impressive until you look at the figures more closely;
- 820,000 reported incidents (how many more slipped through the net?)
- 2409 prosecutions – that is only 2.9%!
- 96% success rate in prosecution – so most they catch are scum!
Fly tipping is totally unacceptable – most comes from either a lack of respect for the environment or basic financial greed! If people managed considered their waste disposal properly and didn’t use the ‘bargain clearance services’ offered by the wide boys we would not have this issue.
Looking at my local area (Rushcliffe) it is clear to see this is a problem in rural council areas, 729 incidents, but only one prosecution – so the detection rate is also not great!
We need better enforcement – prison sentences not fines, and confiscation of vehicles etc. Let’s stamp out this problem once and for all!
Charging to tip
Over the last two weekends I have spent quite a lot of my time taking rubbish to our local tip in West Bridgford, we all take the service for granted, but it may not last if some councils have anything to do with it. Several local authorities are considering following the lead of six Somerset councils that last month introduced “tip taxes” for the first time.
Last month Somerset Waste Partnership, which manages recycling and waste services on behalf of the six authorities, brought in ‘pay-per-visit’ fees at four recycling centres threatened with closure. Householders now have to pay between £1.20 and £2 to enter the sites.
New charges have also been introduced at all the region’s 18 recycling sites for dumping DIY-type construction and demolition materials such as rubble, soil, old ceramic sinks, tiles and toilets. Residents now pay from £2.90 to £116 to get rid of soil and rubble, £3.30 to £45.60 to dump an old car tyre and £6-£35 for various sizes of gas bottles. Weekly opening hours at the sites have also been reduced from 56 in winter and 70 in summer to 40 hours year-round – with each centre now shut two days a week on a staggered basis.
Residents have been told the changes are required to help make £1.9m of cuts required by Somerset county council. In a similar move, Devon county council has just brought in cash charges for dumping soil and rubble, plasterboard and related products, bonded asbestos and tyres brought to any recycling centre in Devon. All other household waste, including garden waste, recyclables and general waste, remains free to dump.
The Somerset changes, particularly the new entry charges at the four at-risk centres – now renamed community recycling sites for legal reasons – were condemned by Eric Pickles, secretary of state for communities and local government, when announced in March – and for once he is right! He said;
“These tip taxes are utterly counterproductive, charging for using recycling centres and the local dump will create perverse incentives for fly-tipping, harming the local environment and diverting taxpayers’ money to clean up the mess”
Since the changes came in, the number of people using the four centres with entry fees are down and fly-tipping outside the gates increased in the first couple of weeks.
Authorities only have a legal obligation to provide recycling centre facilities for household waste, not DIY-type items from the repair or improvement of houses, which is classified as construction waste. This also includes waste created from landscaping or garden alterations such as dismantling a rockery or digging up a patio.
Councils have also begun introducing or increasing fees for collecting bulky household items such as fridges or sofas from your home. In an emerging postcode lottery, residents might be charged on one street for collections, but just streets away it is free. For example, collections for Southwark council in London are free, but neighbouring Lambeth council charges £20. Liverpool and Manchester do not charge, while Brighton asks residents for £4.30 to £51.20 depending on the item.
In Rushcliffe we are all to be charged extra for emptying our green bins from July – is this the thin end of the wedge?
I am all for saving money, but this just does not make sense! Fly tipping will increase and that is not acceptable.
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