Time to pick over bones of of messy recycling scheme

Published: 9 September, 2010

• I WRITE in support of Robin Mackay Miller’s letter on the subject of recycling (September 2).

I have always been a keen recycler and think that Camden’s new extended scheme to recycle nearly all household waste is both laudable and worthwhile.

I therefore had no qualms about recycling our food waste and, having read Camden’s informative leaflet about what could be placed in the bin, I put some raw chicken skin and a carcase inside the brown bin and put it out for collection a few days later.

Come Monday, the contents of this bin were not emptied, although all the bins and bags were placed together and clearly visible

(Incidentally, my garden waste bag was collected and thrown into the neighbour’s garden!)

Despite three phone calls to Camden over the next three days the contents were still there by the end of the week, although I was informed on Friday August 6 that they had been recorded as having been collected that day at lunchtime.

By this time the stench from the brown bin was indescribable, and in the end (as I was going on holiday) I was forced to retrieve the stinking, maggot-ridden, mess and dispose of it in the ordinary dustbin.

It sort of defeated the object, as it all had to be wrapped up in several plastic bags and would have therefore ended up in landfill.

Camden’s reply to this was that the waste that I had placed in the bin was not suitable for recycling and that the men hadn’t taken it because the bin had contained a carcase.

Having rechecked the leaflet I was subsequently informed by environmental services that all chicken waste is acceptable and that the only items that are not are beef and lamb bones which cannot be ground down.

I am very happy to “recycle, recycle recycle,” but please, Camden, would it be possible for everyone at environmental services to be singing from the same hymn sheet as I do not want a repeat performance of the above disaster.

If this were to be a widespread occurrence, it would mean that a very good scheme (but probably an expensive one to operate) would fall apart owing to people not wanting to participate.

RUTH MAXWELL
Courthope Road, NW3