Forum Topic

Garden waste recylcing - have you subscribed?

Just out of interest, has anyone here actually subscribed to the new chargeable service.I have not and will not.Over to you.

Nigel Brooks ● 5065d62 Comments

Unless all you've got is a literally a windowbox or two composting should be compulsory.

Tony Colliver ● 4288d

I rather like a good garden bonfire myself.They create a delicous smell on the breeze.(Unless you are dead naughty and put old tyres on them of course!)

Tony Colliver ● 4288d

Hillingdon also has street banners up about the library expansions and refurbishments that it has done. SO DIFFERENT.

Peter Mcleod ● 4289d

When I lived in Ealing I did pay for garden Waste removal. But now that I live in Ruislip (LB Hillingdon) we have weekly free collevtion. In Borough also residents have cheaper parking. Very different to Ealing!

Tom Maramaros ● 4289d

Oh dear, we've just renewed our annual subscription to the Council for our 9 green sacks, so reading all these posts worries me slightly.

Elizabeth Anna Thaddeus ● 4290d

They seem to have forgotten that not so many years ago all domestic waste went into dustbins or black bags and this included garden waste.Composting is only a practicable option for those with a decent sized garden. Not everything will compost easily and some methods of compositing attract vermin and insects which can cause problems to both pets and children. Not always a sensible option in an urban dense environment.Growing things and greenery are sensible though.Now it is all sifted into categories, not by employees but by residents.Like the CPZ hike especially on visitors permits and the complete refusal of this administration to listen to reason, this adminsistration has got it wrong.Quite why it is always Labour who do not stop look and listen, baffles me. It should be their forte. But like Hounslow it is quite the opposite.So kill the charges but get really tough with fly tippers

Anthony Waller ● 4290d

The Council should do everything in it's power to encourage residents to recycle garden rubbish, not put obstacles in their way. With the yearly charge introduced by Ealing Council it is obvious that many residents will not participate for one reason of another therefore it is hardly surprising to hear of garden rubbish being dumped across the borough.The previous method of providing a free service seemed a more sensible idea which I am sure reduced the additional charge for clearing up flytipped rubbish.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4290d

Yes, the free collection encouraged participation of residents and cooperation between them.  It was so much easier not having to find collect and buy bags from places that were never open when you were in Ealing and to use the new reuseable pink bags for the free collection.

Philippa Bond ● 4290d

Garden waste is free in Hounslow, alternating with plastics.The charge given that garden waste is recycled into compost based products is a disgrace.It had reduced the amount of bonfires dramatically and it is noticeable that this has increased again.Not to mention that much of the leaves collected by residents and bagged up are actually leaves from street trees and park trees.So inversely, much of the leaf clear is done by residents for free.

Anthony Waller ● 4290d

I suspect much of this is garden waste which people have paid someone else to do for them and take away...  They've paid money for it to be fly-tipped just around the corner.  If it is traced back to you you can be fined but worse than that is the fact that you have been conned out of money for a service that you did not get and the mess that this makes of your own environment.  Eventually it will be collected and the bill will be paid by everyone who pays Council Tax.

Philippa Bond ● 4291d

PhilYou say we are experiencing a "high number of garden waste fly-tips".What are the figures for these now?Thanks

Phil Kay ● 4291d

I compost myself! Dry out the branches and then burn them.Traditional, boring, however, effective!

Peter Mcleod ● 4291d

Very well put Ruth!

Peter Mcleod ● 4291d

The second thing that people have been telling us time and again on the doorsteps over the last two years is that they resent Labour’s £40 garden tax.  When we came into power in 2006 the old Labour council was charging 50p a bag for pink biodegradable plastic sacks – they were excruciatingly expensive for the council to buy.  The collection was on alternate weeks so people often left these sacks out on the wrong day.  In 2006 the Borough’s recycling rate was 19%.  Our approach was that recycling should be easy and free.  We got rid of the 50p charge and made the collection weekly.  Due to this and other changes we doubled the Borough’s recycling rate in 4 years.  When we left power in 2010 it was 38%.  When Labour proposed its £40 garden tax 5,000 people signed a petition against it but Labour carried on with its plans anyway.  Labour took us backward – charging £40 for the garden waste service and making it bi-weekly again and completely stopping it for weeks over Christmas.  In 2012/13, when the new contract was introduced, the constant increase in recycling rates we had been used to halted.  The administration is hoping to achieve 43% this year (we haven’t seen the final figures yet).  This chart shows the annual recycling rate as published in the council annual performance report.  Under the Conservatives recycling in the Borough doubled from 19% to 38%.  Under Labour it has gone up a very modest 5% from 38% to 43%.  We believe that a free, weekly garden waste service is key to getting recycling going again and we will make this change when we are elected.  The change is relatively inexpensive, especially when you consider the high number of garden waste fly-tips we are experiencing.

Phil Taylor ● 4291d

I am fed up with this continuing fiasco.  I have paid my £30, have no car, no wheelie bin yet, as for the new contractor I would sack them immediately.  I wonder if the person that thought up this new money making idea has a garden himself?  In spite of evereyone's objections to this new scheme, no one is listening to us.  As for teething problems, there should not be any, so he who is responsible for this ridiculous state of affairs should stop making excuses.  You have my money so now give me the service that I am entitled to, or else continue to collect all the dumped garden waste that will soon be clogging up our streets.

Ruth Goldsborough ● 5047d

Re  What happens if the bags are 'borrowed' from somewhere else???            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx        well Jean, I can tell you what is more likely to happen, as does in Southampton where every householder who wants green bags is given 3 reusable strong ones, free of charge , as is the collection. BUT what happens  is when the collections are made, the bags don't end up with the proper owners, they get slung  back " as near as possible " on the pavements and  which is not usually outside the house from whence it came, plus if there is a wind, the empty bags get blown  all over the place. So the net result is your bags could end up anywhere. Many a time I have had to scour the neighbourhood looking  for mine and not always found them, despite  inking my  number boldly on each bag. So when one goes missing, I call the Council who deliver another new one. Oh happy days.

Tony Price ● 5048d

I had to grab my pink bags back from the dustmen, fortunately I was home when the old contractors did the last collection.  I kept them so I could take the garden waste to the tip. A lot of my neighbours have lost theirs as they weren't around at the time.  You are correct people will just put garden waste in the black sacks, and unless it's obvious (ie twigs sticking out) then how would they now for instance that there is grass cuttings in the black sack.  I'm sure they are not going to untie each bag to check.  The old system worked well and recycling rates were good, I think only 2 people in our close have subscribed. And you are right how on earth are elderly people who can't or don't drive going to cope or afford the extra fees. Disgraceful.

Carol Atkinson ● 5048d

For those who have joined the scheme but not yet received green bags it was suggested on the Acton forum that one could just put out the pink sacks instead and see what happens.Another poster then said that the new contrators have a list of names and addresses of those who have subscribed to the new scheme and anyone not in the scheme will just have their pink sacks removed!Now that is hardly a way to encourage residents to recycle by removing the pink sacks! I know exacely what will happen, the garden rubbish will be put into black bags and thrown out with the household rubbish. Alternatively we will find this dumped all over the borough.I also agree with earlier comments that those over 70 years of age should have a free collection, many will not have a car so how as they supposed to take the stuff to the tip? The elderly are more likely to have larger gardens yet they will be trying to survive on a pension!Whoever thought up this scheme should probably go back to the drawing board!By the way, would the new contractors have the time or the will to check thay everyone using the green bags has actually joined the new scheme? I doubt it!What happens if the bags are 'borrowed' from somewhere else???

Jean F Fernandez ● 5048d

It should be completely free for over 70's who have been resident in the borough for over 25 years as should parking permits and visitor permits for those over 70 who are the most affected from CPZs and not getting any visitors.That should be the same in every borough, not just Ealing and it cost's nothing as all this was created in the first place.....to not make a profit!None of this nonsense cooked up by Cllr Mahfouz about subsidies !Biggest load of tosh I have ever heard.

Michael Brandt ● 5048d

I found another garden waste flytip in my ward this morning on top of all the other mess. Campbell road, where hanwell station is, didn't have anything collected now for 13 days. The place looks a mess. http://wwwcolmcostello.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/hanell-does-not-look-good-today.html

Colm Costello ● 5048d

Re  I wonder whether everyone will make the effort to take their garden rubbish to the Council Recycling Dump!          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx      It is not only making the effort Jean, many do not have the facility, ie a vehicle  in which to transport the waste.  Elderly persons, who would be these days  just the sort  who would have a house with a garden, may not have a car?. Maybe the Council will rethink and  make free collections  for the disabled or persons over a certain age, such as 70?

Tony Price ● 5048d

I just cannot imagine the new contractors having the time and inclanation to check each and every household to find out whether or not they have subscribed to the new scheme!They were running a couple of days late in this area just to collect the ordinary recycling.The more I hear about this new garden rubbish recycling the more I despair! I can forsee that the area will become a dumping ground because not everyone will pay to have their garden rubbish removed and yet I wonder whether everyone will make the effort to take their garden rubbish to the Council Recycling Dump!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5048d

I spoke to the Council phone line last week and was advised that the green sacks had been delayed and would not be available until the end of the month. (I didn't ask about wheelie bins as I don't use them).I was assured that in the meantime we could continue to use the existing pink/yellow sacks and that the operatives had a list of which premises were "paid up" and entitled to a collection.We shall see what happens next week (the first due collection week for this area).

Russell Maiden ● 5048d

Although I have paid for it, I still have no wheelie bin and no answer to my email to the Council.  I have therefore had to put my garden waste in my pink bags, if they refuse to collect it, it looks like I will have to join my fellow dumpers!

Ruth Goldsborough ● 5049d

Green waste management was assessed by Friends of the Earth in 2004 as costing £18/ton for collection, less £4/ton compost value. So £40/year seems to assume getting on for 2 tons a year from every subscriber to the scheme. I don't believe I've ever put more than perhaps 50lbs out for collection in any single year. That's about 50p worth. And I can't imagine anyone in any of the surrounding streets being able to produce much more from typical 3bed semi Edwardian houses with small gardens.

Tony Sleep ● 5051d

Re  You may have forgotten or didn't know in the first place, that the council underspent by £9m last year.          xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    I didn't know, but being a Labour Council, when given the right times, they will let rip with gusto, spending money as if there is no tomorrow. Is always thus  with socialists and other peoples' money, the two part company very well. But logically and with fairness in mind, there are individuals and organisations who have felt the draught of cut-backs, so  not unreasonable for producers of " extra " waste to contribute to it's collection. I believe it is by special vehicles?, in Southampton it is and separate from ordinary refuse collecting vehicles and men. At present, there is no charge there, (and no increase in rates) but for how long  remains to be seen.

Tony Price ● 5052d

TonyYou may have forgotten or didn't know in the first place, that the council underspent by £9m last year. That means they spent £9m less than they expected. They also have over £30m in unearmarked reserves. That means they have no plans for that money yet. They have budgeted £5m for a car park that their own figures suggest will take 16,667 years to get the money back becasue it is estimated to make £26pm profit. They have plans to build 3 new council offices at a cost of £8.7m and are in the process of spending £6m+ on computer and IT upgrades. They have set aside a further £5m to top up the councils pension fund. How many of our residents have final salary pensions. A further £6.8m has been agreed to put new bulbs in every street light even though most of our street lights are less than 5 years old. The council didn't have to introduce this £40pa charge on residents. If they spent more money on residents priorities and less on their own facilities and own priorities, we wouldn't be having the problems we are having now.

Colm Costello ● 5052d

Re  It is a covert price increase,           xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    yes it is, but  let us be reasonable over this. Costs go up  but the Councils are under pressure  not to raise local rates but supply a modicum of good service so is it not surprising some services get the chop, as many have. So in this particular  matter, the service has been withdrawn and offered to be replaced at a cost to those who need it. We should to put ourselves in the position of those  at the Council, do they withdraw the service and leave it at that or for those with gardens etc and who produce waste therefrom, continue  but at a fee. I don't know what Ealing Council does with this waste  but in Southampton where I also live, they recycle it by turning it into compost and sell  that in bags. I am not aware of such being done here. I don't suppose for one moment those sales would pay for the collection service but would be a useful gesture? One cannot blame the Council for raising money  how they can, as long as it is reasonable. A much worse example, for those who have long memories is when local rates used to include that for water( supply and collection ) but which long since have been  the subject of a separate  charge and an enormous one at that, getting on now for a third of the normal rates bill. This post will no doubt make me unpopular, but that ain't nothing unusual!!

Tony Price ● 5052d

To be accurate, we have of course been paying for it, and now the service has been withdrawn. That should mean that Council tax will be reduced by the cost of the service.It's not a "cost saving" nor "efficiency gain", just a means of providing less whilst trousering the same money. It is a covert price increase, exactly like fewer biscuits in a £1 packet or watered-down beer, and it's fundamentally dishonest. The Council should now refer itself to Trading Standards. The real problem is that having done it once, this shameless little wheeze is likely a taste of more to come. How about it Mahfouz? Slotmeters on street lights? Turnstiles on parks? Pavement rental for the bit outside our homes, should we ever wish to leave the house?No I won't be paying it. I'm more likely to fly tip a load of compost on the steps of the town hall.

Tony Sleep ● 5052d

I too am in the minority.  I have paid my £30, I have no car and thus cannnot get to the Council dump.  As the new collection starts in April, I emailed the  Council a week ago, telling them I have paid and where is my wheelie bin.  I got am email saying they would reply within 10 days!  In the meantime what do I do with my garden waste?They froze the Council Tax, this is just a sneaky way of increasing it.  I wonder what they will charge us for next?

Ruth Goldsborough ● 5052d

I really do not want to subscribe to what I see as an additional Tax created. All around the area where I live are rear walkways that were used formerly by tradesmen who delivered coal and Garbage or Bin men who emptied them more regularly than the present contrator's brigade who access it from the Front of our houses. I fear that these back pathways will be neglected and weeds will be allowed to grow unchecked. Cleared weed will be dumped there and soon it will pose a major Fire hazard .How will the Fire Crews access the alleys as they are more often than not, Gated ?

Os A Whittle ● 5054d

To charge is divisive which is so silly.  Is this the political plan?I also understand that it is difficult to get a small wheelie rather than a large one from them should you want one at all.We were taking better control of our own waste and own neighbourhoods which is as it should be when the control freaks in this Council decided on their own agenda.Amalgamating the other contracts for parks and cemeteries with this in order to get a better price I can see the benefit of.  The rest was working well and just needed progressing to reach the bits that it wasn't reaching so well - like new residents, students, some flats, houses in multiple occupation.

Philippa Bond ● 5054d

Exactly. My area of Northfields has suffered frequent flytipping. It's just soul destroying to see the streets and alleyways turned into rubbish tips and once it starts it is really hard to eradicate.

Sam Salisbury ● 5054d

SamGood one. you made me laugh, when the rerality is really quiet sad. People should not have to put up with flytips, but when policy makers charge for something people have not had to pay for before, this is the result

Colm Costello ● 5054d

It will be rife, the habit of recycling has been created, the culture of bonfires over and gardens mainly too small to compost, People will dump probably everywhere.They created the monster but not how to control it when it gets a new master.

Michael Brandt ● 5054d

No surprise really Colm ...The "Will there be more garden waste flytipping?" question sits with other classics like "Is the pope a Catholic?" and "Do bears sh*t in the woods?"

Sam Salisbury ● 5054d

I came across this garden waste flytip yesterday in Northolt. http://wwwcolmcostello.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/garden-waste-flytips-already.htmlThis will become the norm again as it was in 2005 when they charged for garden waste then too.

Colm Costello ● 5054d

Well I appear to be in a minority of one.  I have just subscribed and being over 65 I pay £30.  I love my garden but too disabled to take stuff to the dump and previous attempts to compost have been a disaster.  Anyone want my large turnable plastic compost bin!!!  Looking at what my council tax goes towards - significant percentages to education and welfare services, neither of which I have ever used - I think what the heck - at least I hope I will actually be benefitting from this payment !!!!

Avril Belford ● 5056d

Exactly - why don't people just compost their green waste instead?(My neighbour has a huge garden with loads and loads of space to place a compost heap but fills up three orange bags on a very regular basis.)

Tony Colliver ● 5058d

Which councillor?

Tony Colliver ● 5058d

Solution is to move to clear bags for landfill purposes I suppose.

Tony Colliver ● 5058d

This has been sold to them as a way to make money in these difficult times.  It was a report - an academic exercise.I read it.These sorts of reports can't predict the response of the residents unless they consult a bit to find out what the local situation is.I'd hate the leafy suburb of Ealing to become less leafy but it now guaranteed to.  :(

Philippa Bond ● 5060d

The councillor behind this is one of the most well intentioned but deluded idiots that I have ever come across. So far nothing he has tampered with made any improvement, All smoke and mirrors.Maybe next time around voters will think a bit more about what they expect and question what their prospective candidates party really intends to meddle with before voting, and those who stayed at home and failed to vote, get out and do something rather than moan about the way Ealing is being run

Michael Brandt ● 5060d

Cardboard is supposed to be flattened and it does not have to fit in the green box (as LBH's used to have to).  They often don't take this in the same collection but they do take it.I thought this was a back door method of introducing wheelie bins.  I do hope we don't end up like Brent with rows of empty wheelie bins filling our small gardens.I'm not signing up.  There are other ways of reducing your garden waste.  There is someone near me who every so often puts all their garden waste into three or four black bags and just leaves it to compost in them at the side of the garden.  I believe you need to make holes in them and wet the contents - as you would do with leaves.We managed without a collection before.  We can again.  The remains of garden herbs can go in the food waste bin anyway.

Philippa Bond ● 5061d

I have subscribed with three of my neighbours.  Makes it more affordable.  By the way, contrary to a previous posting you can put cardboard in green bins,

Nigel Williams ● 5062d

the operative word here is    obviously    and  I would say it is difficult to determine with any degree of accuracy what is inside a sealed bag and especially a black one, the material of which cannot be seen through. So how are these work people  expected to decide what is inside the bag, much scope for mistaken identity I would say. And in that case, there would be many bags uncollected but which should be?.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxIndeed. So bags will be picked up unless it is obviously green waste (eg. branches poking through the side, grass cuttings spilling out). This is, in effect, what happens now; if binmen spot a bag containing green waste, they don't collect it and usually put a sticker on it explaining why it's been left.

Vlod Barchuk ● 5062d

Re    black sacks that obviously contain green waste        xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    the operative word here is    obviously    and  I would say it is difficult to determine with any degree of accuracy what is inside a sealed bag and especially a black one, the material of which cannot be seen through. So how are these work people  expected to decide what is inside the bag, much scope for mistaken identity I would say. And in that case, there would be many bags uncollected but which should be?.

Tony Price ● 5062d

If binmen opened black bags, the cost of employing extra staff to finish rounds on time would more than negate any savings from scrapping pink sacks. As now, binmen will be instructed not to collect black sacks that obviously contain green waste; so if it is carefully bagged up (without materials sticking out through the bag) it will probably be collected as refuse and go to landfill, with the consequent landfill tax charges to the council.

Vlod Barchuk ● 5062d

Re  check the contents of black bags     xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx that means they must undo them, do they tie them back up again. Difficult I would have thought if the tops are twisted round and then tied without any additional material used. If the bags are tied in that fashion, which I would imagine is the case, in order to undo them, I would suspect the bags are BROKEN open, which then starts all sorts of problems, spillage, rats, foxes etc which coupled with  being left uncollected will become a health hazard?. Wonder what happens in the shanty constructions now for which the L B of E is infamous?

Tony Price ● 5063d

Re  backwards here in Ealing when it comes to recycling.                xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx    never was  much good, can't  or won't even cope with cardboard, of which there is  loads around

Tony Price ● 5063d

BenIt's not 26 collections a year, it's 22. They won't collect in January because they plan to spend the whole month collecting christmas trees from peoples properties.

Colm Costello ● 5063d

I have noticed binmen in my road check the contents of black bags and leave certain bags behind. Perhaps not all of them do this?

Jean F Fernandez ● 5064d

I don't think the binmen have a mandate to check black bags. Probably health and safety - broken glass, dead animals, poisons etc.  One of my neighbours, with a minimum 500sq.ft garden puts out bags and bags (black) of vegetation (leaves, grass, cuttings etc.) weekly and not once have they not been picked up.  So there you have it --Council.  When, not IF, are you going to return to a good working policy?

Charles Campbell ● 5064d

Actually when you think of it the scheme will not help the environment one little bit (which I assume was the reason for the new green bags and a fortnighty collection) unless there is another reason?Residents who do not subscribe will no doubt have to make frequent trips - by car - to the rubbish dump!I agree with the remarks made earlier that the binmen will have to check every black bag to ensure that it does not contain garden rubbish.Perhaps the council will revert back to the old system when they realise that this new idea is no brainer!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5064d

I haven't yet and don't want to as it's not value for money for me but I don't have a car and cannot take bags to the tip.

Allison Franklin ● 5064d

I haven't subscribed and I won't. My next door neighbour has and two people came to his house this week to deliver his bag. Two doors down another neighbour has subscribed and is taking up the wheelie-bin option.There is going to be lots of garden waste in Ealing going into black plastic sacks to be collected by the refuse collection staff. To stop this the refuse collection staff will have to open up every black sack to check for garden waste. Surely this is not a practical option.The world is going backwards here in Ealing when it comes to recycling.

Eric Alan Leach ● 5064d

I am going to declare that I have already come to an arrangement with my neighbour whereby we are going to go halves on the cost, i.e pay £20.00 each. The subscriber is my neighbour. I notice that the garden waste is now going to be collected fortnightly. There is no way, absolutely no way, that either of us will make use of every one of the 26 collections through the year. So, halving the cost was the only sensible and cost - effective thing to do. I estimate that it is going to cost me around £3.00 - £4.00 a collection, since we don't have a huge garden and I don't do as much gardening as my wife would like me to!When put that like who cannot say that £3.00 - £4.00 is a RIP - OFF? Or, as Os. A. Whittle points out on another thread:How can the Council claim our Coucil Tax is the same as last year? Good point and well made.

Ben Owen ● 5064d

Am still wondering what to do .....need someone to share with

Viv Ellis ● 5065d

I refuse to pay to have my little bit of garden rubbish collected by the Council.It will be interesting to see just how many people pay for this service!What happens if the new garden bags are stolen by someone who has not paid for the service???

Jean F Fernandez ● 5065d

No. Manaaged to save a number of bags which I shall use just occasionally to go to the skip. Cheaper than using the Council service. I can get rid of other things at the same time which I keep meaning to do.If I had joined up I would have done it conjunction with at least two other people to keep the cost right down.Be interesting to see how many bags of garden waste turn up in the streets.I note that Wandsworth has just introduced free garden waste collections. Ho Hum.

George Knox ● 5065d

I have not and will not.

Carol Atkinson ● 5065d

Same

James Brown ● 5065d