Interesting to see that the discussion has moved on to the principle of outsourcing of services.For the most part I think outsourcing is a very smart idea. The contractors are paid once, so they have the incentive to get it right, first time, every time. If they have to re-do work it hits them in their pocket. The standard they deliver to is usually specified in a service level agreement, and if they fail to hit those standards, they are penalised. An in-house Council provider has no such incentive, and can do, and re-do, and re-do, their work endlessly. It doesn't hit their profits (as they're not profit-making organisations), they don't have to be commercially astute (as they are given the money they use, via taxation), and in much of my experience, they have limited interest in managing individuals or teams that perform poorly. It's just too much effort.So what fails here, given the service is outsourced? Clearly the current contractors don't (and in my experience) never have, cared about recycling, They just look to get paid under their agreement. That's fine in theory, so long as Hounslow Council set sensible service levels, and manage their contractors proactively. But they don't seem to.Needless to say I still don't have the box they promised me 5 weeks ago, and have re-promised several times since. I have now given up recycling until they do provide it. They are aware of that, as I've told them in writing, but they don't care about that either. This is not very environmentally minded of me, I accept. But given the shambles that seems to permeate the Councils recycling department, at least I feel a little better for it ;)
Tim Barnes ● 3930d