Chaos on collection days

Published: 26 August, 2010

• IT is certainly quite clear from reading the New Journal’s letters page over the last few weeks that Camden Council’s new residential recycling and food collection service has been hit by more than a few teething problems.

Our recent correspondence with the council, in which we raise concerns about the service and the response we have received is encouraging, especially at a time when residents have told us that they are more willing than ever to explore environmentally friendly solutions to today’s climate challenge.

But we cannot ignore that there are issues.

The author of last week’s letter (A fine thanks for my recycling efforts, August 19) raises legitimate concerns about the confusing number of new recycling bags and caddies being routinely left lying around, any old how, outside his property after being emptied.

Many Camden street property residents from across the borough are now describing similar scenarios and describe nothing less than being greeted by a sea of multi-coloured chaos on their doorsteps and along their streets on collection days.

After bringing this problem to the attention of Camden, one wonders how long it will take Veolia and some of its crews to cease this lazy and uncaring practice which could almost certainly result in an elderly or disabled person being seriously injured or even killed!  

It is also quite clear that some residents have not received any – or at least clear enough – information about the new scheme and this may explain why some residents will not utilise the service as much as they could.

They are either uninformed or unclear about what goes where and on what days to leave the various bags and caddies outside.

It is also clear that elderly and disabled residents need more practical support in using the scheme and it is encouraging to read that residents with a disability can receive an assisted collection. But how many residents know that help is available?

A number of suggestions have now been put forward to the council and we hope it will take these on board.

The association has also suggested a meeting with the lead officer at Camden overseeing the scheme and the invitation has been accepted.
We are also most grateful to Councillor Maya De Souza for the support she has given in taking this process forward.  

In today’s climate we all have a vital role to play in schemes to reduce waste, but one can’t help but think that Camden will need to act sooner rather than later in addressing some of these problems in order to maintain and restore enthusiasm for this scheme!

Any interested London Borough of Camden street property tenant or leaseholder can contact us at camdenstreetproperties@yahoo.co.uk

PETRA DANDO
Chair, Camden Association of Street Properties