| Author |
Message |
TTTTTTTT
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 22 July, 2004 - 01:13 pm: | |
I've fairly recently moved to the area (from the neighbouring borough of Southwark) and found that the weekly household collection of rubbish seems incredibly limited.
Ie. the bin mean won't take garden waste/cuttings, flatten cupboard boxes from the move (as the card was too thick), waste from decorating (a few old tiles from a kitchen wall), anything that might protrude (even slightly) from the wheelie bin itself, the list goes on .....
To boot unlike Southwark, Lewisham seem only to offer an incredibly limited door-to-door recycling service (only paper), when only a few streets away cans, glass, paper, reusable furniture and collections of odd pieces of rubbish are collected regularly from your door for free.
As a result I also now live opposite what seems to be a prime site for locals to fly-tip all sorts of things, presumably as the options for disposing of it responsibly are pretty limited.
Does anyone agree that Lewisham seem to be doing a pretty poor job at either offering a decent weekly rubbish collection service, have incredibly 'jobs-worth' dustmen and/or could definitely inprove on their environmentally friendliness? |
Hilltop General
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 22 July, 2004 - 04:20 pm: | |
Yes, they are in general a bit erm, well - rubbish. Can't speak for Southwark but Tower Hamlets seemed better when I lived there. There's stuff elsewhere on this site on the matter.
The genius bit was when they started charging to collect bulky items - this in a borough with a good few scruffy residents. The result of course is that people fly tip - which then costs more to collect...
Your best bet is to run it up to the depot at Landemann Way, if you have a car.
In fairness though we have big bins at our flats and as long as you can get it in the bin, it will disappear. We're talking chests of drawers, toilets, boilers...
Try writing to Councillor Peter Dawson if you have problems. He seems helpful and effective. |
Bosco
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 22 July, 2004 - 04:27 pm: | |
or equally, don't put all the tiles/garden waste in at once and make sure you bag everything - spread it over a few weeks so they don't say it's too heavy. |
Gilles
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 22 July, 2004 - 04:45 pm: | |
It's funny that. I've recently moved from Colliers Wood (Merton) and can't praise Lewisham's rubbish collection enough! At last we all have wheelie bins here! And as for "unusual" items of rubbish we've never had any problems whatsoever providing it fits in the bin. Indeed it shouldn't protude from it but this is understandable when you look at the mechanism used to tip the bins in the truck. Aside from that, tiles, grass cutting or my neighbours'dog have all gone without a problem.
Futhermore I find that the streets are clean compared to many other boroughs ( well the forest hill area I live in anyway). I can honestly say I haven't any complaints about their service!
(PS: Only joking about the grass cuttings!!!!) |
john2
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 22 July, 2004 - 05:16 pm: | |
I have had no problem at all, I called Envirocall (call the council's telephone number) and they were more than helpful. They will remove 3 large items i.e. bed's, ovens etc at no charge (fridges they will charge for).
I am also led to believe that if it goes in your bin they will take it! |
The Other Brian
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 22 July, 2004 - 05:55 pm: | |
Generally I find the service good. The main problem we've had are when contractors working for Belgravia Homes in Dunoon Road have thoughtlessly blocked our entrane and prevented the refuse van from getting in. Unfortunately, this was frequent over the last year.
However, I do agree that the doorstep recycling is very poor. Considering the UK has the second worst recycling record in the EU (only Greece is worse- but improving), Lewisham's limited service is execrable. Surely by now we could have glass, alluminum and plastic included! Many authorities run a garden collection and composting service for a small fee, and considering that LB Lewisham is relatively well off for gardens, this could also be a boon. It is about time "green issues" impinged on the psyche of our coucillors and they worked to bring us up to the level of our neighbouring boroughs. |
Gilles
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Friday, 23 July, 2004 - 08:53 am: | |
I totally second that!
Despite providing what is in my view a good service it is true that recycling is virtually non existant where I live. In fact I am not sure why I use the term "virtually". It IS non existant.
Would any councillors be able to take this up to the council? |
TTTTTTTTTT
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Monday, 26 July, 2004 - 02:15 pm: | |
Thanks for the tip off re. environcall. As for staggering the rubbish I've tried that and the dustmen manage to uncover the 1 carrier bag full of kitchen tiles at the bottom of the bin.
I just take exception as I've not exactly generating anything 'out of the ordinary' or incredible volumes of rubbish. I've never exceeded the amount of rubbish you can get in a wheelie bin for example.
I'm glad your estate as large bins to accommodate the furniture etc disposed of, however, the estate on Devonshire Road, has a nice fly-tipping facilities around the back....... |
mj
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 29 July, 2004 - 10:43 am: | |
i think the service is seriously lacking.. you as a tax payer have to pay £15 for up to three items to be removed from your property..(not including fridges.. that is £30.. and the price goes up if you want more removing.. hence the general appearance of beds.. cabinets.. fridges.. cookers.. carpets... boxes in peoples front gardens.. just one house can make a whole street look scruffy.. Lewisham is the only i said only council that charges for rubbish to be removed! i think its a disgrace.. they also had a fridge amnesity for a month were you could phone up and have them removed for free but did not advertise this.... rubbish pure rubbish |
tttttttt
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 29 July, 2004 - 11:52 am: | |
Thank God - someone who agrees with me ........
If you've got all the rubbish piled up in people's front gardens in your street, your obviously in a posher street than I am, my fellow residents go for fly tipping in any nearby nook or cranny........ |
Hilltop General
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 29 July, 2004 - 01:53 pm: | |
We don't really go in for that sort of behaviour on the hill.. |
Elizabeth
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Thursday, 29 July, 2004 - 06:37 pm: | |
My husband are I are about to resort to fly tipping. Lewisham council have refused to take away our old fence, even for a fee, because "we don't do fences, mate". Even though they had previously taken away an old oven and a bookcase (which was made of wood!) They told us we had to take it to a rubbish dump on our own. When we told them we don't own a car, they suggessted we ask a friend! I don't know many people who have friends who would happily transport an old rotting fence in their car. So yes, we have an old pile of rotting wood in our front garden. It might just sit there until November when the local teenagers can steal it for a bonfire. |
HilsR
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Friday, 30 July, 2004 - 11:00 pm: | |
How about getting together with some neighbours and getting a communal skip. That could prove very cost effective and stop your thought of fly tipping. That is what we have to resort to when the Council will not assist and we do not have the transport required.
In some villages etc the local councils provide a monthly skip which alleviates fly tipping. Maybe it is something that our Councillors could pursue for you / us? |
AE
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Monday, 02 August, 2004 - 10:49 am: | |
good news from Lewisham council:
Recycling – a new improved service for 70,000 households
The countdown has begun to the start of a new improved free recycling service for householders from Lewisham.
From Monday 2 August Local people will be able to put out cans, glass jars and bottles in addition to paper and card for collection every two weeks.
Lewisham Council’s kerbside (and doorstep) green box recycling scheme already covers the whole borough.
Around 4,500 tonnes of newspapers, magazines and card are collected every year from the kerbside – recycling of your cans and glass from your green box is expected to add additional 2,700 tonnes of materials recycling in Lewisham.
“It’s great to be able to announce the extension of the recycling scheme, so that it’s even easier for people to recycle their glass and cans,” said Councillor Andrew Brown, Lewisham Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, on behalf of Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham.
“Our successful recycling service - an extremely important part of our drive to make Lewisham cleaner and greener - is now moving into top gear.
“Already around 30% of local people in the Borough take part - collecting over 87 tonnes of paper and card a week from the kerbside.
“But we can do more. I would encourage everyone to join in and start recycling not just paper and cardboard but also glass and cans.
“Lets all spread the word. Friends, family, colleagues and neighbours – everyone can join in and use their green boxes.”
Lewisham’s new fortnightly recycling service begins on Monday, August 2, 2004.
From that day on the Council’s green boxes will be bulging with much more than paper – glass containers and metal cans and tins will be collected up regularly to go for new uses.
A handy recycling reminder is on its way to all 70,000 households suitable for a kerbside collection. Local people are advised that the improved green box recycling service is for:
• All types of paper and cardboard
• Glass jars and bottles (please - no broken glass)
• All food and drink cans
Collection days will stay the same. Local people are asked to put their green recycling boxes at the boundary of their property by 7am on their collection day. There is no charge.
There are 300 Mini-recycling centres on housing estates so that local people can easily recycle their cans, glass jars and bottles there. Again, this service is free.
Councillor Brown added, “The kerbside recycling scheme is an extremely important part of our environmental policy and has already proved very successful.
“Support from local people has been tremendous – many tell us they want to join in our new and improved recycling service.”
Local people should contact Lewisham Council’s Call.Point Environmental Services on 020 8314 7171 to order a green box or for recycling information.
Notes to editors:
• More news on Lewisham’s Recycling service will follow soon – including news of a new garden green waste collection service.
• Lewisham Council environmental campaign for 2004 is love Lewisham.
• The campaign encourages local people to join in the work of looking after and improving the environment – and to take pride in Lewisham as a finalist in Britain in Bloom 2004.
• The love Lewisham message is out on the streets of the borough every day. It is carried on large, colourful and inspirational billboard posters on the sides of the Council’s refuse trucks.
Published on 30/07/2004 5:21:34 PM |
ttttttttt
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Monday, 02 August, 2004 - 11:16 am: | |
Having just rung the number provided - this good news is unfortunately limited. The Scheme is only being run in a pilot area (even those on the helpline didn't know where the pilot area was and where it covered).
Then if after 4 months it proves successful (again nothing was known about what 'successful' means) it would be rolled out across the Borough.
I thought the above sounded too good to be true?? |
B
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Tuesday, 03 August, 2004 - 07:51 am: | |
I am wondering whether the council come round to remove larger items
We have a filing cabinet and large chair plus mattress.
Does anybody know please and is it free |
tttttttttt
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Tuesday, 03 August, 2004 - 08:28 am: | |
They do provide the service, but it certainly isn't free. It's £15 per 3 items I think.
Although a gripe earlier on hilights that Lewisham is one of only a few Councils that do charge. |
John2
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Tuesday, 03 August, 2004 - 08:31 am: | |
Going back to my earlier comment, I had a cooker, sofa and boiler removed from Forest Hill by the council for free. Look at the Lewisham web site, read the Lewisham magazine that comes through the door every month or ring the council offices in Lewisham. It really couldnt be easier! |
Elizabeth
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Tuesday, 03 August, 2004 - 12:34 pm: | |
How in the world did you get the council to collect a cooker and a boiler for free. When they came to collect out oven it cost £15. Could it be that Lewisham council doesn't have an standardised policy and they just charge and don't charge residents at will? I am sure looking for some free-of-charge loophole "couldn't be easier" but if the service is free, should residents calling up the council get this service for free? It doesn't make any sense. |
The original BT
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Friday, 06 August, 2004 - 09:10 am: | |
Re the costs of having large items removed. It cost me £30 to have a fridge removed. When you call them you have to give a credit/debit card No. or send a cheque.They give you a reference No. which they ask you to put on the item and you have to tell them exactly where the item is.It must be outside your address, they will NOT collect it from indoors. You can have up to 3 other items removed for £15. They say the extra charge for fridges is because of the Environmental charge for disposal so WHY can you deliver it to the Deptford site and not have to pay anything. It seems to me just another way of making extra cash. Greenwich Council remove fridges and freezers for free. |
ttttttttttttttttttt
Joined N/A
| | Posted on Saturday, 07 August, 2004 - 06:44 pm: | |
A possible solution for you .
I made the same gripes as started this string to the Council themselves and miraclously they are willing/and able to take my rubbish away free and with the normal refuse.
Eric.Kutsoati@lewisham.gov.uk and a Pat Hollands at the Council (with an obviously similar e-amil address) seem able to work this miracle and it certainly seems to be that those who shout loudest (or persist), win the day. |
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