Policy on rubbish

Published: August 25, 2011

I WOULD like to clarify some points about waste collection and recycling in Camden further to the letter (Rubbish piling up in the borough, August 11).

At a time when many boroughs are opting for fortnightly refuse collections, Camden residents still have a minimum of three waste collections a week. All areas of the borough have at least one refuse and two recycling collections, with more opportunities to recycle than ever before.

Year-on-year Camden’s recycling rate has increased and after the introduction of a borough-wide food and garden waste service last year it made sense to review the need for two landfill collections a week. 

With ever-rising disposal costs it is clear the council must do all it can to reduce rubbish sent to landfill and incineration and encourage residents to help keep the streets cleaner by not dropping litter and recycling more.

In 2010/11 household waste disposal cost Camden more than £4.8million. Recycling costs less than disposal and benefits the environment. See www.camden.gov.uk/recycling

Following a recycling pilot project in 2007, 61 per cent of residents consulted were in favour of weekly rubbish collections continuing and subsequently recycling rates have increased significantly.

I am sure if we repeated the consultation now even more residents would be supportive of our endeavours to reduce waste for disposal. Also, by providing food waste collections using purpose-built lockable containers, vermin, although never far away, are less of a nuisance than when refuse was put out in sacks.

The changes to the rubbish collections do not affect flats with communal bins and for residents with restricted space there are other storage options such as recycling bags that can be used in place of rigid containers. Our intention is not to degrade services and the local area but to make the most of the resources available.

If there are rubbish hotspots in any area please ring for action to be taken on 020 7974 4444 – pressing option 4, then option 5.
Cllr Sue Vincent
Cabinet Member for Environment