Serco Now dumping outside our block & they collect the refuse

As you may know I have had many issues over recycling but specifically the fly tipping of Orange bags as well as other rubbish outside out block.

I am waiting now for the council to properly provide this service to estate residents before I return to recycling.

I stopped because some month ago Serco the councils refuse collection service removed two black bags of mine from the bin and left them outside. The caretaker called as he was surprised they were from me. But there was a third bag from another resident. An investigation by the competent recycling team concluded that Serco will not take black bags.

I had asked for a key for the recycling bin to place my bags in it as the 'slot' is ok if you only recycle pizza boxes. The bin was replace. But a YEAR on and several emails and promises and I have yet to see a key.

Now it seems that Secro are dumping there own rubbish outside the block. Ironically, though you can see the green bags marked "SERCO". When they emptied the bins both domestic and recycling waste - THEY LEFT THERE OWN BAGS - BEEN THERE 2 WEEKS NOW!!!!!

You draw your own conclusions but clearly the message I get is that the council is no longer interested in recycling for council estate residents - just everybody else.

New bin moves around the front of the block on its own

It seems the new recycling bank has been left with no brakes, or at least brakes that work, and so now every day it is in a different position outside the block.

If you are injured I have emailed the council about this already should you complain.

(This just continues to make me laugh, the council has £100millions and cannot get a recycling system or infrastructure that works)

Any progress?

A letter from the council apologising for the delay in response and that a "full investigation" is underway. I look for the action plan in dealing with this years old problem but I am not, based on experience, sure they will actually do anything.

As the recycling bin has been moved slightly there is now more room for tipping.

And it grows ....

Further to the last two posts.

The only response to the email sent to the Recycling Team, Cleaner Greener Team and my local councillors (that include the leader of the council), was that I was copied into an email sent from the Cleaner Greener Team to the Recycling Team leader. Otherwise NOTHING has been forthcoming. Clearly the silence indicates that the council are impotent when it comes to dealing with estate issues.

We do have a new Smart Bin which is now padlocked.

I give up on Recycling

I have finally given up on bothering to recycle. It is far too much hassle for a disabled resident like myself. For those copied in you can see the history here - http://arthurhendersonestate.blogspot.com/

1. Over the last few months I have had to report our overflowing bin to just be emptied as this system of weekly collection is going awry - AGAIN for the up-tenth time.

2. I am fed up with the building entrance looking like a tip with ORANGE BAGS filling the bin and being left around it.

3. This encourages fly-tipping, as I write there is a pint of semi-skimmed milk on the bin, two cardboard boxes & a plank at the side of it.

4. I have GIVEN UP asking for a KEY for the recycling bin as after almost A YEAR of ASKING for one - this seems an impossible thing for you to organise. I cannot use the bin when it is locked.

5. This is the FINAL STRAW. On Monday, we had a collection for the 1st time in 2 weeks. The caretaker knocked on my door with an envelope addressed to me asking why I had left my recycling outside the bin, especially as I had always complained about it. I explained to him that I had placed my recycling in the bin the Tuesday before and had another black bag of recycling waiting for the bin to be emptied. As explained I have facilitated my recycling by having a 50l bin in my kitchen which takes black bags. I told him that the bin had been overflowing with ORANGE BAGS with 4 ORANGE BAGS left, 2 either side all over the weekend and to CHECK with the caretaker who was on the estate at the weekend to confirm what I was saying. I went down to the front entrance with the caretaker to find my two recycling black bags outside, which I identified to him. He then presented me with another black bag of recycling which was not mind. It then became apparent that whoever is doing the rounds to collect the recycling has been taking out black bags assuming they are domestic waste. Clearly NO ONE had COMMUNICATED with them that estate recycling has no 'code' for the type of bag to be used, it varies from carrier bags etc.... . Of course they had TAKEN all the ORANGE bags which are supposed to be left out on the street by OFF ESTATE RESIDENTS.

I have enough to deal with, and frankly, historically you have done nothing that has made a difference to this problem.

The bin is currently locked so I cannot dispose of my rubbish as I cannot get a full 50l black bag in through the "cleverly" designed pizza box slot.

You can treat this as a complaint but my expectation is that nothing will be done nor achieved, lets be frank it is beyond the council to organise and implement a solution here.

Until such time as you can demonstrate and facilitate as originally promised, residents being able to dispose of their recycling in a tidy & safe manner I shall simply go back to using the domestic waste bin. I am not going to contribute to the recycling rubbish obstacles etc... anymore.

I note that the local political administration, following the report from Localis (http://www.localis.org.uk/images/Localis%20Principles%20for%20Social%20Housing%20Reform%20WEB.pdf) don't seem to appreciate council tenants sometimes do treat their homes and estates with care. Without the drive here I do understand why it is difficult for you to do anything. As nothing is what I have become used to.

I have copied in South Fulham Housing Management though expecting a response has longer odds than potentially winning the National Lottery. They NEVER respond.

Body of email sent to my local councillors in Town Ward & various departments within the council responsible.

Tory councillor 'sorry' she blamed Indians for litter thrown out of the windows

Thanks to Stephen Cowan for this.

You can see the story at "Tory councillor 'sorry' she blamed Indians for litter thrown out of the windows" on the Daily Mail web site.

You must draw your own conclusions on this story. Personally I find it's overtones racist and would be concerned at future decisions she is involved in and more particulary the motivation. I don't care about the political affiliation she has. I do think however that any party should be very hard on any elected member who is this foolish.

If this were a council employee I am sure they would have been subject to a disciplinary process possibly loosing their job.

Maybe I should ask her to deal with the rubbish that is dumped in our estate and more often than not by private residents from the gated estate and surrounding large houses, mainly orange bags, because our homes are less important.

Maybe she would have more effect than our local housing office with the trees that over hang from the gardens from the gated estate, that drop leaves and sap on our parked cars. They have been told to cut them back but they feel they can just ignore the council.

I wonder why white middle class private residents are allowed a permanent amnesty from tidying up thier litter. You will have to draw your own conlusions on this.

Looking at the part of Fulham in which I reside. I have noticed the signs about fines for littering have gone up but the number of street side bins has decreased.

Rubbish

Well the fly tipping and orange bags continue to be dumped on the estate. It has been passed to H&F Homes weeks ago to deal with. Guess what? - its all gone quiet.

News from Street Scene Enforcement Team.

Following my regular emails, with photo's attached to our local councillors & the relevant council officers.

Having heard nothing for over a week. I received a response from a Supervisor within this team.

They visited the estate this morning. They will also visit & inspect again in the next 7 days. After which they will send a comprehensive report of there actions & findings.

Not bad given this problem has been going on for years and only recently. Through exasperation at in action on the part of the council. The major reason for this blog.

It won't surprise you to learn that I have sent many emails and photographic evidence to the council in the past prior to this internet presence.

So where do I put any of my rubbish this morning???

Another weekend and no where for me as a resident to put my recycling or domestic waste. The council seem to be doing NOTHING about this problem. I send them the photographs. I have received no response to my previous email. Asking the council what actions they were undertaking. This is also a hazzard for anyone who is unstable on their feet.

This is NOT rubbish left by the contractors who are doing the Decent Homes works. They clear their rubbish away at the end of every day.

I can only assume it is now council policy to allow council estates, our homes. To be used as an additional municipal dump for rubbish. Maybe I should submit a question to the next council meeting.

Sunday 30th March carrying on from the week.

Rubbish over the Easter Weekend.

Black bags were removed Tuesday. A metal and beige chair joined the wood by the orange bin. The wood was removed but the chair remains. Taken 23rd March 2008.

Rubbish finally cleared

Finally. For the first time since the 5th March over a week ago. There is NO rubbish outside the building.

Lets see how long that lasts.