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It was good to use these facilities when we had been away and missed collections/had a party or people staying and had more than usual/were about to go on holiday or move and wanted to be clear of stuff. There were carton banks and book banks and clothing banks before some of these things were collected kerbside.  There were often cardboard banks. What I saw was the unsorted waste that was dumped in black bags.  A lot looked like random belongings in black bags - as in people moving/clearing out possessions or possessions of people who have moved on and left them behind - whether their own or someone else's.  Also a lot of builders' and DIY waste.  This was often put INTO the recycling banks.  Broken furniture or furniture which once it had been rained on would not be usable - especially mattresses.CCTV can deal with a lot of this but there seemed to be no will and it takes cooperation from the both the Council and the business. Sainsbury's in Chiswick took over the management of their site and I'm sure have CCTV.  Sainsbury's have signs warning about dumping/fly-tipping but they also have fewer recycling sites.  They probably also monitor better when bins are full - which is always something that users can do.Where I agree with you to an extent is that if you were on your way to work and intending to drop off a bag of plastics (used not to be collected kerbside) and then found the bin full putting it beside the bin would be considered fly-tipping. So was the cardboard box that you took any bottles in if you left it.  This lack of tolerance was discouraging.  Some sensible places provide cardboard recycling and a litter bin/plastic bag recycling (for the emptied carrier bag).  It would also be encouraging if they gave the details of the nearest HWRC and what you can take there.

Philippa Bond ● 3153d