My bin half-empty
a measured Star editorial last year correctly concluded that, given the changes in waste and the scale of cuts required from councils, Sheffield council would need to review refuse collection arrangements.
I remember when Sheffield had a ‘gold standard service’, where the bin-man was required to collect the bin from wherever you left it. People wanted just three things from the service: all the refuse was taken – not part of it left on the pavement, the bin was returned to the place it was found and the lid was replaced.
Resources and costs, technology, opportunities and expectations have all changed and a comprehensive review is timely. Nowadays, like most of our neighbours, our black bin is usually half-empty, but our blue bins and boxes are increasingly full.
I suppose it was a vain hope that Lib Dem Couns Scriven and Mohammed would end their political posturing on this issue. For the record, the vast majority of Lib Dem-controlled councils have introduced alternate-week collections. Not one intends to revert to a weekly collection.
There have been many media reports of Eric Pickles offering cash to councils to keep a weekly refuse service. Despite Pickles saying criteria and rewards would be announced in December and then early January, no scheme has yet appeared. Insiders suggest the intention is to have headline-grabbing announcements, but a scheme delivered so late and so unrewarding that take-up will be minimal.
Sheffield needs a strategy which:
Minimises waste (plastic carrier usage has dropped 90% since the Welsh introduced a 5p charge)
Maximises recycling (eg encourage increased home-composting; is it coincidental that councils with alternate week collections have highest recycling rates?)
Provides an appropriate general refuse collection service (for the vast majority, alternate week collections are fine; but there are some places, such as flat, where twice-weekly is appropriate. We don’t all have to have the same service. Bigger families may need bigger bins, not a weekly collection.)
Is responsive and continuously under review to deliver improvements.
May I thank David who, week-in, week-out, ensures all wheelie bins and boxes in our street are out ready for collection. He’s a treasure.
Howard Knight, Lyons St, S4
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 6 comments to this article
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Butterfly7
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 01:03 AM#5 If you actually saw the bin man do that, you should definitely have made a note of what he looked like and reported him straight away and insisted on them revisiting to empty it! ........ It's time we stood up to their cavalier attitude and reminded them who pays their wages!!!
Woodseats Sammy
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 08:40 AMWe put ours out, it was just over half full - general rubbish, not bagged up. The binman opened the lid, looked in - and left it.
Butterfly7
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 06:42 PMTotally agree #3, we definitely couldn't compost all our green waste, so it will be fill up the black bin (what a waste - no pun intended) or spend yet more money on petrol which we can't afford, or bonfires - again what a waste, not to mention the possible upset to neighbours! ......... It's also way past time we were able to put out ALL plastics for recycling, not just the choice bits they want! ........ It's absolutely disgusting how much the waste management "service" costs to the Council compared to "service" we actually receive.
coaxingstar71
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 05:03 PMI'm more than happy for our black bin to be emptied fortnightly but I'm aggrieved that the green bin collections have been axed. I don't think all residents in Sheffield can practically compost their green waste.
Bytor
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 11:50 AMThere are bigger bins available already and in our case a smaller bin would do but would lead to unnecessary costs ... a fine letter Mr. Knight
kayte
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 09:30 AMI just want one thing. My black bin emptying WEEKLY - simples (but apparently too much to ask for in return for all the tax I'm charged!)
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