Forum Topic

If you don't want two wheelie bins in your front garden

then please sign the petitionhttp://ealing.cmis.uk.com/ealing/ePetitions/tabid/96/ID/18/Against-Wheelie-Bins.aspx

Nigel Brooks ● 4015d142 Comments

It is very hard for people to envisage what it will look like until it happens and they certainly would not expect anything that is incapable of working being foisted on them.Most people already have enough to worry about without feeling that they have to deal with this as well.

Philippa Bond ● 3772d

It is an out of date system sold to the Councils by the big waste collection companies.  It suits those companies more than it does those it is collecting waste from.  The amount of waste has been decreasing.  There are now packaging regulations which have changed the make up and amount of packaging.These will probably suit landlords of converted houses (who should be paying for them as a business expense) and who may have (should have) allowed and retained the space for them when they applied or permission, were granted permission and converted the property.As I understand it maisonettes may be able to share wheelie bins.  You need to agree with your neighbours.  You can help your neighbours to get and use the correct recycling bins. Once upon a time everybody used to borrow cups of sugar from their neighbours but nowadays I suppose that means drugs!

Philippa Bond ● 3772d

Maybe because many (including myself) who have no knowledge about this petition or where to find it!Perhaps if it was more widely mentioned on the local forums it would attract more signatures, but whether the present administration in Ealing Town Hall give a fig about the wishes of the residents remains to be seen!I certainly was not consulted and I doubt whether my neighbours were consulted,  this new scheme is simply being foisted upon us!

Jean F Fernandez ● 3772d

I stand corrected,thank you,Albertina.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3772d

I believe you mean "serfs". You are far from being a serf.

Albertina McNeill ● 3772d

There has been no survey in Ealing on this matter,no one was consulted or given the opportunity to voice their opinions in what is supposed to be a Democracy?We the mere surfs the land have no say except at the Election and as I said before do not vote for the Party who made thisdecision for you!!!!!!!!!

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3772d

Unfortunately that represents less than 1% of the population of the Borough.

Philip Coe ● 3772d

I don't know if the survey has been completed, but I did have a doorstep visit from Councillor Paul Conlan before Christmas at which he asked me about any local concerns. I took the opportunity to tell him I was not in favour of the refuse collection changes and sadly he was less than sympathetic. The response I got was that he couldn't see any problem with us fitting 4 wheelie bins into our existing front garden (we are in a maisonette so would need to store the two bins for ourselves and the two for upstairs). I asked about the individual visits which residents were promised so that circumstances could be assessed and his response was that they were likely to say the same thing so it would be a pointless exercise. I thought that councillors were meant to represent the views of the people? It seems not, and that the system is we are dictated to by those who are elected to represent us. There are plenty of properties in Ealing where wheelie bins could make a real improvement and are appropriate for the space available. But there are also plenty that are not. Why not give people the option?

Andy Hamm ● 3772d

Soakaways and permeable paving aren't enough if you get heavy rainfall over a short period. Some get away with it by leaving "planting strips" at the sides which is pointless as the rainwater just runs past them. Unfortunately professional builders aren't there to give advice on much of the building work causing the problem. Satellite map of Greenford, zoom in and look at the back gardens as well as the front ones:https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5355329,-0.3467956,1926m/data=!3m1!1e3

Albertina McNeill ● 3774d

I know from people in the building profession that they have found that they are having to pay particular attention to increased heavy rainfall.  Unfortunately public buildings in particular often don't get all the maintenance that they require.  Increased safety requirements - sadly from the point of view of the building owner's purse (but not for the workers) - have meant that scaffolding is required now in places where in the past it wasn't.It has also meant that many people seem to be diverting their rainwater straight onto the pavement instead of into the public sewer or a soakaway on their own property.

Philippa Bond ● 3774d

I cannot find the link to the London Assembly report that assessed the risk caused by the loss of front gardens but these are links to other references on the issue:https://www.london.gov.uk/about-us/london-assembly/new-jenny-jones/front-gardens-and-floodinghttps://london.greenparty.org.uk/news/2015/05/20/surchage-properties-with-paved-over-gardens-that-increase-local-flood-risk/http://insidecroydon.com/2014/02/22/jones-critical-of-crass-stupidity-of-national-flood-planning/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXsZlCeI3MYI have a life Debbie but it won't be much of one if I end up having to cope with the sort of problems they're dealing with in the north of England right now. You asked me for some evidence to back my comcerns. There you are.

Albertina McNeill ● 3774d

Happy New Year Debbie.  Made any positive New Year's Resolutions about your own life?

Philippa Bond ● 3774d

These are links to Twitter accounts that show what happened on 26 August 2015 over the course of about an hour when we had particularly heavy rainfall: https://twitter.com/Greenford_WX/status/636644421010857984https://twitter.com/UB6_Weather/status/636659390234394625https://twitter.com/riverlevel_1204/status/636535486899691520https://twitter.com/riverlevel_1204/status/636579400121774080https://twitter.com/riverlevel_1204/status/636779365695627264This is the link to my Twitter account, the banner pgoto shows what Oldfield Lane, Greenford looked like at the time:https://twitter.com/GreenfordBlogThat's a short episode of heavy rain on one day.This is the link to the Environment Agency surface water map showing Greenford:http://watermaps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiyby.aspx?lang=_e&topic=ufmfsw&layer=0&x=515063&y=183748&scale=10&location=UB6+8AU#x=514993&y=183239&scale=11This is the link to the Environment Agency map showing the potential impact of flooding from the Brent:http://watermaps.environment-agency.gov.uk/wiyby/wiyby.aspx?lang=_e&topic=floodmap&layer=default&scale=11&x=514993&y=183239#x=515678&y=182536&scale=10Hope that's enough proof.

Albertina McNeill ● 3774d

And you need to get yourself a life and also get with it.Where is your link that proves you and your cause are right?What I observe from my refuse collection people is shocking.Anyone in Ealing been flooded?

Debbie Edwards ● 3775d

They think they can do everything from their desks using google nowadays. They will need to do something about flooding because that will follow with all the concreting over of gardens that will happen.  Unfortunately they can only deal with one box at a time.  This scheme is now out of date we should be moving towards something else.

Philippa Bond ● 3775d

3015 electronic signatures to this epetion.Well done everyone !.

Harry Jay ● 3777d

Has the borough wide survey been completed,have any householders had the opportunity of adding their own comments,re their property ?.

Harry Jay ● 3777d

Those wheelie bins will come in handy when Greenford gets flooded (a genuine problem worthy of far more hot air than this topic). I'll be able to float to safety in it/on it. I'd rather councillors spent some time telling me what they're doing to prepare the area for that. I've asked - no answer.

Albertina McNeill ● 3778d

I would suggest if everyone made their thoughts and case to the Councilor on this Forum,there may be some changes,the Tory Councilors  have already muttered about this problem and as far as I am concerned I will not be voting labour in the next if the  wheelie bins come in without change,it was a badly thought out scheme by someone with a pea for a brain.Well done Hounslow!!!!!!!!!!

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3778d

But will Ealing Council follow suit?

Philip Coe ● 3778d

Hounslow have made a decision re the second wheelie bin (for recycling.  This is after a lot of representations.Gail Busza's post giving the reference to the Hounslow Council decision.  "Good news!Following the LBH Cabinet meeting on 15 December, it has now been decided that the existing weekly kerbside sorting and collection service for dry recyclable waste will be maintained and that the alternative of a fortnightly co-mingled collection service will be rejected. This means that another wheelie bin (240 litre) will not be imposed on us and we can continue to use the bags and boxes that can be taken through the house to be stored out of sight. Further detailed information concerning these new arrangements will be circulated by the Council to all households in the New Year.The decision is reported here (this page has links to the appropriate background papers):http://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/mgDecisionDetails.aspx?IId=84075&Opt=1"

Philippa Bond ● 3778d

Remember Doretta Cocks?

Philippa Bond ● 3790d

You can use other licensed waste carriers.  Waste and Recycling is only one of the uses for Council Tax.  It is a shame because I presume that all the people who have ordinary dustbins have them because they or their predecessors bought them to protect their bin bags.Instead of buying a lot of massive bins needing special lifting gear (although in many places and with the smaller wheelies many operatives lift the bin bags out) the Council could have provided discounted ordinary sized bins.  In fact there are plenty of those available in Hounslow right now which I'm sure you could get free.The people who still need attention are those who throw their rubbish out of the window and do not have good enough or any bins.  Many of those will be tenants whose landlords are not providing bins for the letting business.  Why are we subsidising them?  They should be fined under Health & Safety.

Philippa Bond ● 3800d

I suspect they cannot enforce that "your" bin is kept on your land.  But I believe that they can act against you keeping, and using, the bin whilst kept permanently on the pavement.So you can decline to have a wheelie bin but I also suspect that you cannot select alternative means of collection.

Philip Coe ● 3802d

If she speaks Arabic she is unlikely to come from Iran. They speak Farsi in Iran which is the same as one of the two languages spoken in Afghanistan (where it is known as Dari) and Tajikistan.

Sue Rowe ● 3803d

I'm not sure of the specific language, but it's Arabic. She's from either Iraq or Iran (she tells me differently frequently).

Simon Bell ● 3803d

This may have been answered before, but on what basis can the council insist I keep their bins on my private land? Council bins should be on council land i.e. in the street.

Paul Brooks ● 3803d

They probably stopped listening long before this latest rant about first world problems. It was the reference to the alleged appearance of developing countries that particularly offended me. How many people abroad raise their children surrounded by the festering stink of burning plastic so that our streets can look neat and tidy? They take on our unwanted warships and cruise liners, our second hand clothes, all our crap in other words, and are expected to be glad of it. Not forgetting the shameless exploitation of an elderly woman's state of mind in other posts on this thread. How many of us read that and wondered why you didn't just help her with it?

Albertina McNeill ● 3803d

No one is listening,to Safety,Security and Fire Hazards,the bins not being wanted in the first place,disability and handling and storage problems,this is going to be a very expensive nightmare,badly thought out,by some pea brained idiot to meet targets that wont be achieved anyway,I stated before remember who is giving you these unwanted monsters,and vote them out next time round,we live in a so called democratic state,we were not consulted in any way,my vote goes to whoever gets rid if these bins,keep your old green boxes etc,the will be used when this all goes pear shaped,and please Leader of the Council and express your views and disgust at this proposed change,which is not wanted,costs money the Council has not got,and will bring Ealing far from the Queen of the Suburbs.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3803d

Metal bins don't smell bad once anything smelly has been removed.  Plastic bins do - they can stink for ages - which is not what we need from something that is nose-high!Simon:Don't give up yet.  Which language do you need help with?  Quite honestly it is the teenagers who can be the worst - they haven't a clue what anything is made out of.

Philippa Bond ● 3803d

she also doesn't read English, so nothing will work. I'm dreading it as she'll just put everything in the wrong bins, as she does with the green boxes now.

Simon Bell ● 3805d

No matter what we say it seems there is very little we can do to prevent having those awful wheelie bins forced on us next year.Hello - is no-one listening to us???

Jean F Fernandez ● 3806d

Congratulations on getting all that research done in such a short space of time. I'll know who to ask when I want to talk excrement.

Albertina McNeill ● 3806d

Very few wheelie bin fires are caused by hot ashes. Most are caused by vandals using fireworks or cigarettes or flashpoints of flammable combinations. Nappies and dog faeces in the bin create methane within 36 hours. In hot weather the bin acts as a propagator, one spark can cause combustion.Then there is the issue of airborne bacterial spores, right by your doors and windows of houses that pre date most current building safety features.Two weeks of rotting poo mixed with polystyrene.  Aside from the smell, is a bomb just waiting to be set off.The HSE directions for new build houses consequently specify that wheelie bins must be housed no less than 4 metres from the nearest door, window or air vent.  This if for fire and public health safety.With all the other safety features that post 1980 homes incorporate, Hour burn floors and doors, etc. Common sense alone should mean that precautions for older homes should be double that of newer homes.A wheelie bin emits toxic fumes from the plastic long before it ignites.The contents will smoulder and ignite before the bin itself.If placed by doors or windows, the fumes could reach upper windows.

Mark Kehoe ● 3806d

Galvanised dustbins apart from being a design over 100 years old, are half the height of a wheelie bin and people have been using them for ash for as long, hence the name Ash Can which became Thrash can. And they make a lot of noise if you try and stand on them. The lids are not flat, not easy to balance on.Wheelie bins are much taller, easily moved in silence and being flat topped a much easier platform.  They are a much favoured tool for those with intent.

Mark Kehoe ● 3806d

Keep what we have,save money,ditch the party at the next election for local Councils if the don't listen,we are still in a democracy even if we were not asked if we wanted these bins in the first place.And yes we still advise people not to place ashes in Combustible containers,I am informed the change over will cost three million poundssave it and ditch the project.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3806d

A great many? I thought the main thrust of this debate was that no one wants bins cluttering up their gardens, side passages, etc. They say they want rubbish bags instead. Galvanised bins, even better for standing on when you want to break into a house - no wheels to make it slide out from under you! And you can put ashes in them - and start a fire!

Albertina McNeill ● 3806d

That's why a great many people still use old style galvanised bins. It usually equates with them having a coal fire.I do but use the ash on the garden, Slugs hate it.

Mark Kehoe ● 3806d

Surely it isn't about the levels of recycling? It's about how much money is available to do anything at all! As for fire risk, do we still have to warn people not to place hot ashes in bins?!

Albertina McNeill ● 3806d

We began running out of money some time ago too.

Albertina McNeill ● 3806d

The only thing wheelie bins achieve is fortnightly or even monthly collections.It makes absolutely no difference to recycling output assuming one is recycling properly.However the criteria that councils are using to justify introduction of wheelie bins is deeply flawed.It's a bit of a con trick and authorities have fallen for it.Unemptied wheelie bins for 14 days or longer bring with it a serious fire and health risk, which is why there are guidelines issued by most UK fire services and the HSE.The criteria needs to be " Where Practicable"That is to say where the bin is safe away from doors and windows and out of fire risk to homes, where the collection vehicle can operate safely and effectively, and where residents can move them without risk to property or themselves.With small terraced houses, small frontages, no rear access, elderly people, people with dementia, this is neither safe nor practicable.With increased cuts to London Fire Services and reduced health resources, this is not a wise move.Collection times are significantly increased. One local survey in one road in Brentford has seen the collection time rise from 3 mins to 12 mins and that is without the collection being done as it should ie emptying each wheelie bin by  machine.That results in increased fuel and wear and tear in the vehicle, poor use of manpower as they now have dwell time, congestion to other road users all of which increase use of fuel and pollution.Wheelie bins were designed for a purpose. Rural and outer suburban residences with driveways and grass verged streets, like the inappropriate side loading trucks which cannot operate safely in small streets, this results in a less efficient service.Pure folly and the whim of egos overriding common sense.

Mark Kehoe ● 3806d

I think that the decision was made years ago and is now out of date because many people now shop differently and don't make as much waste because they can no longer afford to and there have been campaigns helping them to reduce.  That the Council is insisting that we still go through the motions is a shame because I think that many people think that they will actually encourage less recycling (the opposite of what we have been sold as the reason) because the bins are so enormous. At least LBE is accepting the fact that these enormous things may not be suitable for some homes and appear to be offering the red route option.  (I was going to put solution but I hear they are not always picked up by the right lorry.)  There does appear to be a security and fire risk particularly where the properties have little or no space at the front.In Brentford it seems we have already seen non-collection of recyclables because hidden by wheelie bin with a carrier bag of residual waste in it and residents unable to get in and out of their homes because entrance blocked together with pavement obstruction and damage to at least one car.      It would be good to see some best practice and sensible and flexible solutions - and more help in the reduction in reducing the residual waste.  The Council would save a lot of money if people used their food waste bins and didn't send so much of that recyclable waste to landfill where it creates methane and sent it instead to make bio-gas compost and electricity.

Philippa Bond ● 3806d

My understanding is that wheelie bins are being introduced as a cost cutting measure to enable the council to continue giving any kind of care in a difficult economic climate. It is up to voters to decide at the next election whether they have actually achieved that.

Albertina McNeill ● 3807d

The social care system is a complete disaster in this country.  Most carers seem to need support themselves - or so the lady with dementia I know says! Back to back appointments and block booking make the carers' jobs impossible as they seem to be expected by many care companies to beam themselves from service user to service user whilst apologising and making excuses for the poor timetabling.  So if you are paying then you are short-changed.  I doubt if the Council will have managed to co-ordinate two departments to get recycling on the list of jobs for the carer. How very generous of the Government to allow the Councils to put up our Council Tax to pay for it.  Only I thought Councils could already put it up by 2% but no more without a consultation.

Philippa Bond ● 3807d

A list, laminated or otherwise, won't be much use to someone with dementia. The person mentioned obviously needs more support than she is getting at present from her carers. There are people with the clearest state of mind who can't organise themselves when it comes to the current recycling system and the same will apply when it comes to the wheelie bin arrangement. Some of us are looking forward to wheelie bins and, clearly, some of us are dreading it. It won't suit everyone and the council will have to make those adjustments or get voted out.

Albertina McNeill ● 3807d

If you look at the information about wheelie bins on www.ealing.gov.uk you will find that you can share bins.I understand your problem with your neighbour and the green box.  Just about everything CAN BE recycled only the kerbside contract is not for EVERYTHING recyclable.  Perhaps if you gave her a laminated list and explain that she would be able to cope more easily with what can go in the green box.  Other things may have to go to charity shops or jumble trails etc.

Philippa Bond ● 3807d

Will each household on a converted townhouse have 2 wheelie bins? If so, there is absolutely no space for them here. I imagine the 4 household could be made to share them, in which case we will have another problem as one of our neighbours has dementia and already cannot comprehend the green box system. She puts everything in the green boxes & they don't get collected. If they check what's in the wheelie bins we'll be in the same boat but on a larger scale. I should add that even if  each household has 2 wheelies, this neighbour won't keep to her own. She's just doesn't understand.

Simon Bell ● 3810d

Hounslow Council have chosen to ignore all the safety issues from national Fire and rescue conventions and the HSE.It may well be that they will face issues of wilful imposition of risk upon residents.The risks to terraced houses are far too many to make wheelie bins a safe and justifiable option. But these politicians and officers are briefed to ignore the public .In Brentford alone, elderly have been trapped in their houses by them being left right in their doorways, cars damaged by empty bins blowing in the wind.They are like leaving a stepladder by your windows leaving your home very vulnerable to intruders, the fire risk is huge. The health risk from contents which become biohazardous waste after 48 hours going uncollected in an urban area for 2 weeks is inexcusable.All of these are known issues and becoming an increasing problem. They will have issues with insurance and liability.It's not nimbyism,. It is genuine risk to health and safety in particular to small homes and those with no rear access or adequate front space.The application of 'Where Practicable' does not exist in the mentality of those responsible in implementing this in this and other boroughs.Don't expect someone else to solve this. Everyone facing these problems needs to write to councillors, MPs and the minister overseeing local authorities.

Mark Kehoe ● 3810d

I hadn't thought about fire risk and perhaps others hadn't either but another concern is that Police anti-burglary advice is that wheelie bins should be kept out of sight and chained/secured to prevent them being used to gain access or even remove stolen goods.  Chaining them and keeping them out of sight may be possible for people with side access to their rear garden but there are so many roads in our area where houses are terraced this isn't possible unless they drag them through their houses to their rear gardens which is totally impractical.  I would like to know how the Council are going to assist residents to comply with Police advice.

Carol Atkinson ● 3810d

And then they took their wheelie bins back and away. It appears a lot were subsequently left in the park.

Philippa Bond ● 3812d

And then they took their wheelie bins back and away. It appears a lot were subsequently left in the park.

Philippa Bond ● 3812d

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/residents-wall-in-council-leaders-house-with-wheelie-bins-a3120791.html

Philippa Bond ● 3813d

There's not much i see right with the Brentford area --- bu the protest of these locals had me in stitches and I commend their actions to the house!!!Now, what's the address of the Norfields Ward Councillors.. there's a Christmas prezzie on the way!!! :-)

Colin Goodman ● 3816d

Yes Dominique,I can concur with your comments re Fire and Wheelie Bins,as an Ex Senior Fire Safety Officer I know these Bins are a serious fire hazard,all of our Fire and Rescue services in the U.K have had multiple incidents of fire in Bins,spontaneous combustion and in some cases Arson.These Bins must not be positioned by Windows,Doors,in Passageways,or in the case of Bungalows where a fire incident may progress into the eaves and onward into the roof space.

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3816d

Can I suggest you have a read on line of BrentfordTW8 newsletter which I received today. It is free. An interesting story about what happened to the leader of the council and wheelie bins, on the South side of the A4!  Read also about fire in wheelie bins and how your insurance cover would be affected. Both articles are well worth a read.

Dominique Morgan ● 3816d

Can I suggest you have a read on line of BrentfordTW8 newsletter which I received today. It is free. An interesting story about what happened to the leader of the council and wheelie bins, on the South side of the A4!  Read also about fire in wheelie bins and how your insurance cover would be affected. Both articles are well worth a read.

Dominique Morgan ● 3816d

If you live in a small terrace house and have little space in your front garden and cannot place the wheelie bins away from the windows and your door it could be that they become a fire hazard.

Philippa Bond ● 3816d

Well said Jean,

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3817d

I  understand the cost of provision of these unwanted monsters is three Million Pounds,and some person states we are saving two Million Pounds,rubbish,excuse the Pun.A non democratic decision made for you in this democratic society,remember this when you next vote for your next Council.!!!!!!

Dr John Stolworthy D.Sc ● 3817d

No one's interested, Philippa. I've tried raising the issue of the loss of front gardens, mentioning the increase in run off, the impact on small mammals like hedgehogs, the effect on microclimates caused by the daytime absorbtion of hard surfaces of heat, etc. The councillors who should be dealing with it don't want to lose votes - householders want to park as many cars as they can fit in to what was a garden to avoid paying to park on the road. I managed to force a comment (you would not believe the effort required) about the loss of front gardens from the leader of Ealing UKIP and he told me that residents like to pave over their gardens because it gives you somewhere to put your wheelie bin. The Labour led council make money (as I've told you before) from dropping kerbs. There was a flood alert on the Brent in August and parts of Greenford came very close to flooding, in my opinion caused by the increase in run off, but no one said a word. No one will care until flooding begins to have an impact. This report was issued by the London Assembly years ago:  http://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/archives/assembly-reports-environment-frontgardens.pdf

Albertina McNeill ● 3817d

The problem is that many of us don't need bins that size even for a fortnightly collection.  They won't help many of us increase our recycling because we can't do any more - and it is better and updated info that will - and not the bins which don't actually do it for us.Interestingly they don't always suit the operatives and they prefer to take the bags out of the bins to collect them rather than manoeuvre the bulky bins.  Generally we have lighter rubbish if we are only binning residual waste and not the things that we shouldn't be eg building waste and electrical goods.Jean - Somewhere you mentioned about packaging in Germany.  Perhaps you could ask your friend about the bins that they have in supermarkets (not just at) where you can leave extra packaging so you don't have to take it home.  I'm pretty sure they have also been taking their own bags shopping for years.  We've been very slow in this country.

Philippa Bond ● 3821d

That picture just reinforces my feelings about those awful wheelie bins, what an eyesore! Now imagine the same view without those wheelie bins and see the difference!They might suit the council and their operatives very well but what about the rest of us?

Jean F Fernandez ● 3822d

Wow Philippa.  I am trying here but suspect it will not work, if not I will set up a photo testers thread that nobody else need to worry about.a data-flickr-embed="true"  href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/137815711@N04/23007901245/in/datetaken/" title="20151103_142603">

Philip Coe ● 3822d

Have a look at what they have been doing in Brentford.Gail Busza still has a petition to the Council going.http://petitions.hounslow.gov.uk/wheeliebins/

Philippa Bond ● 3822d

Now you can see why everyone used to practice on a neighbournet website that was hardly used!

Philippa Bond ● 3822d

lessthansign-space-src-equalssign-"http//web-address-usually-ending-.jpg"greaterthansignMiss out the dashes.

Philippa Bond ● 3822d

@@@@@@@@!!!

Philippa Bond ● 3822d

Well that's why I gave up!!!The format is basically:

Philippa Bond ● 3822d

Sorry, Hugh, but you can't just copy and paste one of my messages that include the signs!The post of mine that Michael referred to is here.The format is basicallybut in the first message in a thread, you have to omit the quote marks. That's not good HTML but it's the only way to include an image in the first message on this forum. (Technical Support: It would be nice if that bug was corrected!)

Philippa Bond ● 3822d

The format is basicallybut in the first message in a thread, you have to omit the quote marks. That's not good HTML but it's the only way to include an image in the first message on this forum. (Technical Support: It would be nice if that bug was corrected!)

Philippa Bond ● 3822d

First you have to have your photo in photobucket or similar.  I think flickr probably is.  Then:The format is basicallybut in the first message in a thread, you have to omit the quote marks. That's not good HTML but it's the only way to include an image in the first message on this forum. (Technical Support: It would be nice if that bug was corrected!)(Stolen from a post made by Richard Jennings who can do these things.)

Philippa Bond ● 3822d

Off topic but to make things easier for the reader how do you actually post an image on this site rather than a link that has to be copied and pasted into a new tab?

Philip Coe ● 3822d

Unfortunately no-one is listening to the wishes of residents and I fear we will have no choice but to deal with it as best we can. All I can add is that the Borough of Ealing will be a much uglier place with rows of wheelie bins lining every street.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3822d

A taste of things to come?https://www.flickr.com/gp/137815711@N04/e1e1g7

Philip Coe ● 3822d

There are pros and cons about wheelie bins.  We dislike them, especially where there isn't much front garden space for wheelie bins - generally, there look untidy and are cumbersome to place in the front of one's premises. We're quite happy with the waste collection service as it now exists.

Gerry Tan ● 3908d

I am sure we will all receive a questioner before the bins are issued.Oh, seen a well dressed man wearing Id looking in gardens down my road and seen him in different road the day later.I hope we will get a chance to retain bag collection where bin's cannot be located.For example I live in a penthouse apartment (well the estate agent advertised it as that) and I have no garden only an area at the communal entrance which must be kept clear for fire escape reasons.I am generally in favour of the bins where they are suitable.

Jim James ● 3912d

We were told that there was an OPTION to change to fortnightly.  From the state of the collection at the beginning of the contract there was something very odd about it.  There were lorries too big to go down our narrow streets, the contractors didn't seem to know where the streets were and which ones were main ones and had to be done at non-peak hours etc, and they hadn't had delivery of the recycling collection vehicles.

Philippa Bond ● 3952d

If you've made an effort to reduce the amount of waste that you make and use the facilities that are provided kerbside and know and use the others then fortnightly collections won't be such a problem for you.  The fo.od waste collection will be weekly.http://www.recyclenow.com/facts-figures/how-it-recycled/food-wasteOur food waste goes for anaerobic digestion.You pay for many other services in Council Tax apart from collection of your waste and recycling.

Philippa Bond ● 3953d

Er no, it's cheaper for the people who charge for a service yet don't deliver, using a third party contract makes it really easy to point the finger of blame elsewhere.Now back in the real world, which doesn't appear to be the one you live in, rubbish collections every two weeks in this part of London:NO THANKS THIS IS NOT THE SERVICE I PAY FOR.

Debbie Edwards ● 3953d

Probably because their contractors had a deal with the council and slowly we are going to have these hideous wheelie bins whether we like it or not.The worst part is that we will then be reduced to a fortnightly collection!NO THANKS !!!

Jean F Fernandez ● 3953d

Because it easier than leaving the office and confronting the people who still do nothing and after all the men in sharp suits and shiny shoes have promised they'll fix it for them.  No sweat.  Unfortunately they only give you part of the information.Why is it that so few people know what can be recycled kerbside in their area? Let alone in bring banks and local charities.  Do you know where your local electrical and electronic recycling bank is - or how to find out?

Philippa Bond ● 3953d

Wheelie bins are ugly, too large to handle,front gardens look a mess when they're located in them, most residents do NOT want them - so why are the Council officers insisting that we have wheelie bins?

Gerry Tan ● 3953d

Didn't  even want one.Cue the "Mrs Green in somewhere remote, only puts out half a bag a year quote"Good for her.Remember it's on the internet, so it must be true link..........

Debbie Edwards ● 3954d

Many properties simply do not have space to store these wheelie bins. Frail and elderly residents may find these things hard to handle.Some households have very little recycling whilst others have a huge amount, how can the same size wheelie bins be suitable for every family?The cost in providing wheelie bins to each household must be enormous. Surely this money could be put to better use?The old saying should be heeded 'If it ain't broke don't fix it' The system in place works perfectly well, why  change what works?The same thing happened with the pink sacks for garden recycling, this service was FREE and was fantastic, when the current administration were elected they decided to axe this free service and the pink sacks. Now fewer residents dispose of their garden rubbish because they object to paying for a service which was once free. How can this encourage people to recycle properly.I can imagine problems with getting the same wheelie bin back, and sometimes the green boxes are just dumped on the pavement or thrown over the garden wall depending on the mood of the operative!Wheelie bins are unsightly, difficult to handle, not easy to store. There have been stories of some councils checking on now much one can put in these bins, if they cannot close the lid they may not be emptied.In some cases they will not be emptied if residents do not position them with the handle facing the right way!Our front gardens are too small to house these unsightly bins, why has this not been taken into account?Why will thsse bins only be emptied fortnightly? Is this because Amey is unable to cope? Perhaps these points should have been taken into account before employing the current contractors.Why are the wishes of the residents not being taken into account? Last time we were asked the answer was a resounding NO.

Jean F Fernandez ● 3954d

How many signed the petition?

Charles Campbell ● 3954d

Do you remember this:http://neighbournet.com/server/common/earubbishmarch004.htmThe Enterprise/Amey contract in Ealing has been a problem from Day One.  Then there was a fuss when it was re-negotiated behind closed doors.  For a lot of us it is now fine but in some areas of the borough it appears not to be.Perhaps we should have compulsory recycling like they do in a lot of other London boroughs.This might persuade the FEW who insist on doing nothing to start doing something and the MAJORITY who do do something might be encouraged to do a bit more because they may learn that something else has been added to list since they last looked. 

Philippa Bond ● 3963d

Modern day packaging is a pain - where possible we shop with the minimum of packaging as possible.

Gerry Tan ● 3964d

Do you remember this?http://neighbournet.com/server/common/earubbishmarch004.htmIt all started with Enterprise and trucks too big to go down roads and uncollected rubbish...  This was wrong from Day One.  Right now the service I get is fine but then I actually use all the kerbside recycling services that the Council provides and so I get my money's worth.  I also refuse to take home from the supermarket excessive packaging because I don't want to have to deal with it at home.  It is nice to be able to walk into the local shop and take home one single courgette with no packaging.

Philippa Bond ● 3964d

If they actually got themselves together and tackled the obvious problem people/areas then they would get their recycling figures.  Unfortunately they won't.The Government also have little to be proud about.  Where are the TV adverts and posters? 

Philippa Bond ● 3964d

I asked for more information in an earlier post. It has now been published in the council recycling web page. My problem is still that our political system bypasses our councillors. How can they represent us when they only hear our opinions after the cabinet have made their decision. So if we are to have to make all these cuts shouldn't we get rid of 60 odd councillors . This would leave just 9 or so to make all the decisions in vacuo and allow them unfettered access to silly schemes like the tram.

Arthur Breens ● 3965d

Agree with you Philippa - what does our Council think they're doing - these are OUR streets and our homes?! End of rant.

Gerry Tan ● 3966d

Bedford Park aren't happy either.  It is a bit like watching the third world filling their roads up with cars and pollution before they realise that that just causes more and different problems.  We should be able to skip this step.

Philippa Bond ● 3966d

In some areas I have seen the operatives wheeling a wheelie bin along the street and throwing black sacks into it as they go along.  The lorries for collection are too big to negotiate many streets...Why can't we have a one sack policy?  And why does the Council consistently fail to tackle the people who quite obviously don't separate their waste at all using the receptacles provided and why aren't landlords required by law to provide these and the space to put them in to new tenants? It should be a Health & Safety issue.Wheelie bins don't increase recycling because they don't do it for you - and that is what is meant by the people who say it is 'difficult'. Information and action from the Council does and sometimes the first bit of info on it comes with the debate and arrival of new bins....Not all areas of Chiswick have them...

Philippa Bond ● 3970d

No we are not separated just working in different rooms.This is the biggest change to many of our lives. I have seen the new agenda for the Walpole Ward Forum. Hey and it ain't on it so it can't be important to our councillors.This is Arthur

Arthur Breens ● 3970d

I don't think you would have to keep the wheelie bin in your garden. However in order to have the rubbish collected you would need to wheel it out (from the back garden, yard, side way, front garden or wherever) on to the pavement or front path on the collection day. In terraced and smaller homes this effectively means it pretty well has to be kept in the front garden(unless it's wheeled through the house from the back!)If there's no room to store it in the front, presumably you would also have to wheel it out from the back! However, I did hear somewhere there were smaller ones available and also people could share one if they wished??? Maybe there is some flexibility somewhere. We can but hope! Judy Breens

Arthur Breens ● 3970d

We are lucky that we have a hedge that will at least screen our wheelie bins from the road for the most part (although not from our front sitting room window :-( ) but these monstrosities are going to turn the whole area into one gigantic eyesore.I shudder to think what the narrow streets with barely anything in the way of a bit of private land in front of each property in the vicinity of Northfield Avenue are going to look like once this lot rolls out.Wherever you encounter these things in other boroughs and towns around the country the entire area seems to suffer from a depressive pall which impoverishes the whole environment for everybody - residents and visitors alike.

Tony Colliver ● 3970d

I have just checked.Wheelie bins were not mentioned on the 9th Feb Walpole Ward Forum.They are not on the agenda for the 23 June Walpole Ward Forum.Cllr B.Rai is a Walpole councillor and is a cabinet member.

Arthur Breens ● 3971d

Phil,We haven't been privy to any or all the detail, costings or alternatives that are behind this decision. Tory cuts just ain't good enough. Savings to be made just not good enough.Recycling rates to be improved just not good enough. I am sure my councillors will reveal all at the Ward Forum on the 23rd June. But why will this be after the decision is made and not before? How can councillors represent us if they haven't gleaned views from residents at the forum before decisions are made. If I were a councillor I would be really upset that a decision had been made by Ealing's cabinet before I had a chance to talk to my residents. This reminds me of the tram debacle and look what that did to the Labour group.

Arthur Breens ● 3971d

Paul Brooks asked:Why would they be in anybody's garden? My garden is my private property and I don't believe the council can dictate that they can use my garden for their property. Or am I wrong?...Both, sort of. You're right in saying that the Councilcan't dictate that they they can use your gardenfor their property.You're probably wrong in assuming that if you refused, or threw them away, the council would continue to collect your rubbish. If you prefer to make your own private arrangements for rubbish collection thenI very much doubt that the Council would stop you.However if you didn't and accumulating rubbish startedto cause a health hazard, rats etc then your neighbours perhaps might start complaining tothe Council and you'd probably be legally liable to have it cleared. Its the same as with dustbins in the old days. Many people had to buy their own dustbin then. But if you didn't buy a dustbin and leave it out then your rubbish wasn't collected. Simple as that.The only real difference today is that peopleare generating a lot more rubbish. Hence the needfor bigger containers. And there area lot more parked cars around which make everything that more difficult for everyone. While many of the collection vehicles may be too big to start with, that isn't helped by both commuters and residents parking on corners.michael adams...

Michael Adams ● 3971d

Paul - I think you're right, the Council has no right to tell us where to place wheelie bins, as long as they are not on the public highway / pavement.However, when wheelie bins were rolled out in Hounslow, the Council leader's line was that if people "opted out" of using wheelie bins, their rubbish would not be collected.The whole process for making these decisions seems to get more and more shady.

Phil Kay ● 3971d

Why would they be in anybody's garden? My garden is my private property and I don't believe the council can dictate that they can use my garden for their property. Or am I wrong?

Paul Brooks ● 3971d

I say again,  we do NOT like wheelie bins for our homes - a sad day if they're going to be forced on us.

Gerry Tan ● 3971d

No. The damage is caused by the operatives and the collection mode.The claims would have to be made on the councils insurance or the operators insurance.A lot of private vehicles get damaged by Wheelie bins and recycling containers.Most residents come home to find damage with no idea how it happened.Most operatives usually take a lot of care but wheely bins in streets with limited space are always risky. But like the side lifting refuse vehicles which are not designed for small streets, the risk is often between damage to trees, lampposts or vehicles or injury to a person.One wonders just who makes these decisions and whether they have any common sense.

Mark Kehoe ● 3971d

...most days the cars are parked so close together you can barely walk between them let alone get 2 wheelie bins to a collection truck - and given the 'job and finish' approach to collection means the operatives won't care so much how they get bins to the truck - does car insurance cover wheelie bin damage?

Philip Alford ● 3972d

http://www.ealing.gov.uk/news/article/1272/plans_to_increase_recycling_approved

Philip Alford ● 3972d

I have no room in my front garden for two wheelie bins

Maria W Pogroszewska ● 3985d

Yes, but I'd have to buy that and I'm not keen on plastic.  I had no real intention of buying anything.  I was just amused that you could have a designer biscuit barrel if you wanted to and use it for your used tea bags etc and... somebody would be sure to be extremely disappointed.  All the crockery stuff seems to be named with what to put in them. Everybody is trying to manipulate us!Anyway I still think that the Council need to think again about what will happen if they foist these hideous and unnecessary wheelie bins on us...  I don't believe they have thought outside the box.

Philippa Bond ● 3986d

"Yesterday I had a casual look for a smarter alternative to the small caddy.  (I'm trialling a glass pint pot with a large yoghurt tub lid on it on the worktop at present.) I found a Jasper Conran biscuit barrel for £20 in Debenhams. It just needs to be something that won't rust and won't mind a dishwasher!"Like a £2 Tupperware container?

Nigel Brooks ● 3986d

Great!  In some parts of the States people freeze their prawn heads and tails until collection day.I've found that a small dustbin hidden from inside by a shrub and half-hidden from outside by small wall will hold a black sack until collection day - and we can do many weeks. It's the recycling that there is much more of but most of that can be taken back to the shops for recycling if there is too much.Composting is brilliant.  I've loved having a wormery and will have again when reorganised.  I'd be interested to hear of anybody using a green johanna or green cone:http://www.ealing.getcomposting.com/(I see they currently have some offers.)Yesterday I had a casual look for a smarter alternative to the small caddy.  (I'm trialling a glass pint pot with a large yoghurt tub lid on it on the worktop at present.) I found a Jasper Conran biscuit barrel for £20 in Debenhams. It just needs to be something that won't rust and won't mind a dishwasher!

Philippa Bond ● 3986d

Don't worry! We cope! I keep the vegetable stuff in the small caddy in the kitchen and place in compost bin in garden at intervals. Our food waste is minimal anyway. I keep this in a bag in the fridge. On the appropriate morning I place this in prescribed food bin and put it out first thing! Along with black bag and everything else!Just have to get up early! Judy Breens

Arthur Breens ● 3986d

For most people the food waste boxes are fox-proof.I had a problem when I put my box too near the edge of a step and it had been tipped off and over opening it.I consequently changed where I put it.  There are two locking positions on the box - have you tried both?I sometimes leave the box just inside the door ready to be taken out first thing in the morning.Others will have tried other solutions.What have you tried? 

Philippa Bond ● 3986d

And the $5,000,000 question is "What is going on?"In addition the food waste "locking" buckets are NOT FOX PROOF. These are to be collected weekly. An easy task in Walpole as our foxes have learnt how to open them. That means they will have no food waste in them because the juicy bits will have been taken and the rubbish items left all over the gaff. One fox I came across was walking up the road checking the date of the next collection on his mobile. Mark I have tried to make light of it otherwise I would cry. This feels with no information like an eastern block dictatorship decision final and finished.

Arthur Breens ● 3986d

It would be nice and easy for the Council but most of all for the Contractor to have a simple one size fits all contract.  It will ruin a lot of streets.A great post but there are also the houses that DO NOT HAVE REAR ACCESS and only have a small space in front.People want everything too easy nowadays and saying something is too difficult is just an excuse for not doing anything.  Your waste is still not going to be magicked away.  You will still be expected to sort - between recyclable and non-recyclable in the kerbside collection and there will be a whole load of new problems.We sometimes see a collection where the collectors collect black bags and put them into a wheelie bin as they roll it along the pavement to the special wheelie bin lifting collection truck. So why should we have them?  It would be better to deal with the properties that are having problems dealing with their waste and help them to improve.Some of the worst buildings are unlicensed HMOs where the landlord needs to be taken to task as good provision should be made - and the properties inspected to make sure that they meet regulations for health and safety eg adequate fire precautions.   

Philippa Bond ● 3986d

Sorry Posted again as the first time seems to have vanished!Elderly people simply cannot use wheelie bins. In some areas the things are taller than many who can no longer lift things above their heads.These require quite regular cleaning and again a burden for a great many dutiful elderly and simply not done by the 'too busy' masses.The streets of Brent look a total mess from Cricklewood and Harlesden to the grass verge lined streets of Kingsbury and Pinner, they are littered 24/7 with wheelie bins.These things are a complete blight on the environs of almost everywhere they are used in the UK. To the point that they are used again and again as an illustration of run down, unkempt, slovenly, dismal Britain almost universally in the world's media.What has been completely overlooked is that these were a design made for wide open american style streets with wide driveways and detatched houses.They were not designed for small streets with limited rear access, narrow alleyways,steps and all the other things that older housing stock cannot be adapted to.Brent and Hillingdon though being boroughs of newer housing stock do have wider roads, homes with driveways and garages and generally more street space. Ealing Borough has little of this so a comparison cannot be made.The damage to parked vehicles caused by wheelie bins either by restricted spacial movement, and empty units being blown into persons or property is quite common, LBE could end up with very high rate of insurance claims.This appears to be the brainchild of the same group of idiots who negotiated a cleansing and refuse contract utilising oversized vehicles. Vehicles designed for wide boulevard avenues.  Vehicles that are a daily health and safety breach to operators in many Ealing Borough streets.  One type deployed has damaged trees and lamp posts all over the place.The collection speed will be significantly decreased as will the degree of damage if rushed.There is no sense in this or any genuine cost saving.So what is really going on?

Mark Kehoe ● 3986d

Not all of Hounslow have wheelie bins.

Philippa Bond ● 3987d

I don't know if the Council Press Officer sits on his hands or not - all I know is that we in our road think that wheelie bins are an eyesore and an inconvenience and we don't like 'em - they're ugly and make our road look like a developing country. Must we have wheelie bins?

Gerry Tan ● 3987d

So why isn't this competent press officer making it easy for us to understand. We are afterall the customers. And in a mature democracy we've a right to ask questions and get answers.

Arthur Breens ● 3987d

all this information is available on Ealing Council's website all you have to do is access cabinet committee papers and then search for the waste contract .

Mr Shital Manro ● 3987d

Sorry there is a competent press officer who keeps us in the dark. He reads this and sits on his hands.

Arthur Breens ● 3987d

Elderly people simply cannot use wheelie bins. In some areas the things are taller than many who can no longer lift things above their heads.These require quite regular cleaning and again a burden for a great many dutiful elderly and simply not done by the 'too busy' masses.The streets of Brent look a total mess from Cricklewood and Harlesden to the grass verge lined streets of Kingsbury and Pinner, they are littered 24/7 with wheelie bins.These things are a complete blight on the environs of almost everywhere they are used in the UK. To the point that they are used again and again as an illustration of run down, unkempt, slovenly, dismal Britain almost universally in the world's media.What has been completely overlooked is that these were a design made for wide open american style streets with wide driveways and detatched houses.They were not designed for small streets with limited rear access, narrow alleyways,steps and all the other things that older housing stock cannot be adapted to.Brent and Hillingdon though being boroughs of newer housing stock do have wider roads, homes with driveways and garages and generally more street space. Ealing Borough has little of this so a comparison cannot be made.The damage to parked vehicles caused by wheelie bins either by restricted spacial movement, and empty units being blown into persons or property is quite common, LBE could end up with very high rate of insurance claims.This appears to be the brainchild of the same group of idiots who negotiated a cleansing and refuse contract utilising oversized vehicles. Vehicles designed for wide boulevard avenues.  Vehicles that are a daily health and safety breach to operators in many Ealing Borough streets.  One type deployed has damaged trees and lamp posts all over the place.The collection speed will be significantly decreased as will the degree of damage if rushed. There is no sense in this or any genuine cost saving.So what is really going on?

Mark Kehoe ● 3987d

Thank you Shital,But why do we have to fish for information like this? Shouldn't we have been told. The 15 year contract was incompetent and was under constant scrutiny until now.And this was the first time I heard of a break clause. Who is the competent press officer who keeps us all in the dark?

Arthur Breens ● 3988d

Really  you would think that Ealing Council don't have  competent officers they arranged  this contract with a seven year break clause and also the ability to change it to go to fortnightly collection .

Mr Shital Manro ● 3988d

Was it 6 years ago that the ruling party signed a 15 year contract and the whole thing became a bit of a mess? I always thought it was a rubbish idea to sign a 15 year contract in such uncertain times. How much is Ealing paying to change this contract to "really bin" operation. £8,000,000????

Arthur Breens ● 3988d

Philippa,I just hate being told what to do.I don't mind information and a reasoned debate.Cllr Manro  made some attempt.There is some in Around Ealing.But again poor in detail.When something is forced on you and you dig deeper the arguments tend to fall away.Lets have the full story including the capital cost of new bins and lorries.

Arthur Breens ● 3989d

I'm afraid that rather than educate and inform those that don't make any effort to safeguard their waste and recycling until it is collected we are being manipulated into a one size fits all solution.  Only one size does NOT fit all.  We will just be replacing one problem with another.

Philippa Bond ● 3998d

I don't think we should be made to have and therefore use wheelie bins. I think they look ugly in the streets and roads where we live.

Gerry Tan ● 3998d

The recycling rate goes up every time the Council has a door-to-door initiative.  There is still not enough information for new residents moving in to the borough.  I have seen the horrifying sight of three large wheelie bins in the front gardens of the little terraces in Brent.Completely unnecessary and so often empty except for the residual waste one. Many people in our small terraces already use a small dustbin for their residual waste and this works well.  There should be more encouragement for residents to line their bins with a black sack and not to fill them so full that the binmen can't remove the sack (it would be the same problem with a wheelie bin).  People wouldn't pack their suitcases so thoughtlessly.  Cardboard boxes are designed flat and also TO BE flattened. The majority of them just need the bottom undoing.  It's easy.

Philippa Bond ● 3999d

The idea of having a wheelie bins is that you will have two types one for general waste and one for recycling . The public will no longer have to separate recycling waste it can all go in the recycling wheelie bin. The London borough of Brent and Harrow are already operating this system and most people know how to use it. We will still have a kitchen waste bin. In areas where the front garden is not large enough the council will still have a black bags collection system. By moving to all alternate weekly collections the council will save and also the evidence points to a large increase in the recycling rate.

Mr Shital Manro ● 3999d

Taking control of the amount of waste that you make and knowing where else and how else you can dispose of it legally will put you in a far better position.  You can share methods and ideas with your neighbours and friends.  Be aware of divide et imperar (divide and rule) tactics.However the less waste that you have the easier it is to dispose of.  Don't buy more than you need and learn to manage it better! There is lots of help out there.Don't forget that the basic mantra is Reduce Reuse Recycle.

Philippa Bond ● 4001d

The Royal Horticultural Society has started a campaign to green greying Britain.https://www.rhs.org.uk/about-the-rhs/blogs/news-blog/march-2015/greening-grey-britain

Philippa Bond ● 4001d

When the wheeled bins arrive,we could be asked to fill in a legally binding form.http://www.moonbattery.com/archives/2008/05/britains-wheeli.htmlFined by council.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1020883/Young-mother-ordered-pay-265-putting-bin-24-hours-EARLY.html

Jim James ● 4004d

Yes, and when that council tax hike eventually comes (sooner rather than later is my guess) it is going to be a whopper.I would'nt be surprised if bills literally double.

Tony Colliver ● 4014d

Here in the Pitshanger area the Council about three or so years ago held a local referendum as to whether to go over to wheelie bins or retain plastic sacks with the recycling green box etc.If this Labour Council now want to overturn a democratically arrived at decision at least we should be given the opportunity of a further local vote. By the way I note we have an election tomorrowWheelie bins are visual pollution and do nothing for the built environment. Also will become fly and maggot ridden if refuse not first placed inside in black plastic sacks. The bins are too large and cumbersome of old people to carry buckets of water to wash them out.

Martin C. Harris ● 4014d

Who has promised a saving of £2M?As seen in the BBC2 programme wheelie bins do not do the recycling for people (however much people hope that they will). They just change the problems. They are too big for many people's needs even for fortnightly collections.  The problem is people's fears over a lack of collection (which many can solve with the use of an ordinary sized bin to safeguard worrying and potentially interesting to vermin).The Councils will still need enforcement action to be taken in places whatever system is in place.  Let's document our lovely and green and ever diminishing small garden areas and try and keep them.  The wheelie bin parks we are likely to get in their place are depressing and threatening.We could and should share space more with neighbours if they suddenly have an overload.I suspect that a lot of money would be saved if more enforcement action was taken and less clearing up with no investigation went on. Let's have more of an open overview of the system instead of a hidden one.

Philippa Bond ● 4014d

I would like more information. Bags slung into a heap and slung into a lorry is fast. Lifting wheelies in pairs? takes longer...so more congestion and more congestion for longer. In the summer fly life cycle time is less than 2 weeks so more flies and more chance of disease. And if you miss a collection you have a month's rubbish. I know because it happened to my Mum in South Glos. I had to take it to the tip. Maybe that is the where the saving is made. Let's see all the arguments set out and then a debate chaired by an independent chair.

Arthur Breens ● 4015d

I hope Ealing council remembers where Ealing is and gives its residents a choice,We are not twinned with North Korea so give up a choice.This system worked very well when I lived on the sea side where black bin bags were attacked by seagulls.http://thanetpress.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/seagull-bag-scheme-expanded.html

Jim James ● 4015d

With approx 350,000 population of the Borough that (projected) saving is about £6 per person a year. I am guessing 2 or 3 times that per household.I would rather pay the extra to keep the streets wheelie bin free and maintain weekly collections.  But is the problem that Councils are not currently allowed to raise Council Tax? Although that may of course change after Thursday....

Philip Coe ● 4015d

I agree --- we generate even less waste!However I recall an article with a direct quote from the Council saying decision made, we know its not going to be popular, braced for the objections but will EVENTUALLY save £2M a year and thats that so up yours electorate

Colin Goodman ● 4015d

I don't need two wheelie bins, or indeed any.A quick 'straw poll' of my neighbours reveals the same.I don't mind choice but this is dictat.A family of four (mine) generates around 1/3 of a black bag of refuse each week. I sort my recycling into two small containers and I will not be wheeling bins onto the street every fortnight when the current general refuse arrangement works.

Nigel Brooks ● 4015d

"What are the downsides?"I think them main downsides are that we'll only get fortnightly collections and where will people in houses with small front gardens store them? The wheelie bin isn't the most attractive of objects.I'm in two minds as I live next door to someone who leaves their rubbish out overnight and, as sure as eggs are eggs, the foxes scatter the contents all over the street, mainly in my front garden!

John Walker ● 4015d

Wheelie bins fine for those with side entrance to rear garden and are physically able to move them on collection day but for those with no side entrance, small or no front garden, it all becomes very impractical and a potential eyesore.Ealing is noted, rightly, for its tree lined streets. Let's keep it at that without wheelie bins cluttering the outlook.

Philip Coe ● 4015d

Interesting one. What is your issue with wheelie bins?I can see that the amount of recycling might be a bit small, but storing rubbish in containers that the foxes will not spread across the road seems like good news to me.What are the downsides?

Nick Goodliffe ● 4015d