Forum Topic

Doh!

Hounslow council have closed Spaceway (rubbish dump) to all but trade waste and have urged people to use their 'bulky waste service' at £40 a throw for five items. I don't think it requires a genius to work out that this will lead to an increase in illegal fly-tipping, how short-sighted can you be? The consequent cost of clearing fly-tips will thus be down to the council tax payer - really smart move!

Vanessa Smith ● 1971d6 Comments

I wonder how many people only have one thing that is too difficult to deal with?In normal circumstances I would suggest sharing the cost with a neighbour or two wanting to dispose of bulky items.  I expect you may need to use one address.I'd pretty well never choose any of the official waste and recycling centres as the first port of call.  They really are for stuff with no life left and whatever we think there are generally other people very happy to have cast offs.  I'd offer whatever it is on trashnothing.com or other websites on the West London Waste website.  The British Heart Foundation we've recently found to be rather fussy (they must be successful and the collect) but Petit Miracles in W12 were also picking up small pieces of furniture for repair and upcycling.  They hold various courses in this.Hippobags are another option.  You buy the bag and the price includes collection.  You need to check how everything is working now.

Philippa Bond ● 1970d

Get what you're saying Guy - but if you're trying to spread staff around to cover for others then it follows that HH won't be able to clear fly-tips as quickly as they normally do - so the last thing you want is even more dumped all over the place? Just for the time being it might be a nice gesture to have a more nominal sum for the bulky waste collection??

Vanessa Smith ● 1970d

My experience of Spaceway is that there is little or no people involved in household waste.  Residents take their bags etc up the steps and chuck it in the top.  The skips are high level and nobody seems to care what is thrown inside.  Kew, however ( you may have gleaned from previous postings I like the recycling centre there ) is completely different.  There are people to help and advise and low level skips.  Spaceway is a tip and Townmead road is a recycling centre.I have a note ready for my household waste bin this week, thanking the workers for collecting.  Amazing how a thank you or kind conversation helps in a job.

Sarah Felstead ● 1971d

There is actually no additional cost to the council for clearing fly tips under the Hounslow Highways contract.It probably hasn't occurred to people that we are trying to run a full refuse collection service (which is likely to become busier than ever with people at home all the time) and a full street cleaning service with an already significant reduction is staff, even before the schools close. Around 20% of Hounslow Highways staff are self-isolating. I don't have the figures for Recycle 360 staff.Something's got to give.

Guy Lambert ● 1971d

Me and you both! Bonkers.

Vanessa Smith ● 1971d

When I read this I cannot comprehend how councils reason things through. I really give up!

Nicholas Beard ● 1971d