Forum Topic

They seem to be doing a couple of weeks using one collection system and then a couple of weeks using another.Is this just to destroy all that had been built up before?  The less you have the easier it is.  We need to keep the pressure on companies to choose better and the least necessary packaging and to maintain improvements rather than just accepting everything that is thrown at us.  It was because there were no regulations before thatCouncils (and us) ended up disposing of more and more and paying for it while the packaging companies became rich and gave no consideration to disposal of their product at end of life. They should also be working on helping residents to reduce the amount of waste and recycling they put out for collection - just passing that to the West London Waste Authority isn't good enough.  I also don't believe that the Kerbsiders are big enough and suspect they don't take enough types of recycling (perhaps why there are reports of clothing being left behind).  Perhaps someone was hoping that they wouldn't be needed and they could get away with the split collection with just two operatives throwing everything in (including our recycling boxes and bags as seen by both myself and a neighbour)?BTW recycling in clear bags is usually for fewer different items eg as happens/ed with the flats recycling. It does work as bags will be refused if the wrong things are in it.  However there are new contracts being set up by some  Councils with fewer items being collected for recycling.Wheelie bins (as used at the Jazz Festival) collect more because everything gets put in - and I mean absolutely everything.  There was no difference between what went in the "Mixed Recycling" and what went in the "Non-Recycling" bins."Mixed Recycling" means sweet FA when there is no list of what is considered "recyclable".  Each contract is for different things and most things are recyclable somewhere with someone.In Ealing we have been "recycling" food waste for years and years.  It is a shame that there weren't specific bins for food waste - especially as all the containers and cutlery I saw this year used by the food sellers was actually compostable.On the way in to the festival was a large sign saying "No Glass".  Inside the park there was a large bag marked up "Glass Bottles".  It was full of everything - a sign I think of the frustration and exasperation of no-one knowing what to put where. There always seems to be a lack of continuity with this festival yet it happens every year. Where is the leadership?This festival is usually advertised all over the place - eg in Time Out - and people come from all over the country and other countries not just Ealing.  Everywhere has different "recycling".  And when can we have PDFs of what we can recycle downloadable to print from the website like most other boroughs?  I have been asking for them for years.The website is too bitty with too many links instead of having a decent amount of info on each page.Where too is the information about ordinary sensible sized dustbins cf Hounslow which has disappeared?  I see that there is now information about fines being levied when your waste is left out too early.On a positive note I can say that I did receive a new plastics bag after mine went missing.  In fact I have been inundated with them - including the original which came home.  However they should all come with a note saying that they will last longer if they are not left out in the elements and putting your house number and road helps to aid the return of lost bags.  I think it deters lazy bag pinchers who can't be bothered to order their own.  (If you want to borrow - just ask!) 

Philippa Bond ● 4999d

George,I am sorry but I can't help you with this. However, I think I may have an idea why the co-mingling is taking place. I believe it has all to do with the size of the truck used and the increase of the round allocated to each truck. Perhaps Enterprise must have miscalculated how long separate kerb collection takes. If it takes too long to shift all the recycling into the truck, collectors may not have enough time to finish all their allocated round.  Therefore the choice they have is either to co-mingle (which saves them time) or miss some collections altogether. Also the previous contractor not only used small trucks with different easily accessible cages but also, when full, used to pop down the local depot (in our case Greenford), instead of somewhere out of borough to empty the full load and then proceeded with their round.  Does it make sense? It would be nice if our leadership would share with residents what the real situation is. If I am right, why do they insist telling us to keep separating? Would it be better to provide us with clear plastic bags, like the one I have used this week, in which to put all our recycling (this is what lots of other cities do and have done for a long time)? This will saves time and efforts not only to us but also to the collectors. Then only when service resume to normal – if it will ever happens – advise people that from dot day separate collection will start once again to take place.I don’t think that the ‘power to be’ realises that it is the lack, and the contradiction, of communication that frustrate people. 

Rosa Popham ● 5009d