Hounslow Council Announce Delay In Wheelie Bin Trial
Put back until July due to massive national demand for bins
A pilot scheme to introduce wheelie bins to five areas of Hounslow will be delayed, because bin suppliers cannot cope with national levels of demand according to Hounslow Council. The wheeled bin trial was due to start in mid-June but will now begin in July.
The trial is due to include the Riverside area of Chiswick, where local councillors and residents have voiced opposition to the proposed new method of refuse collection.
In a statement today, (May 9) Councillor Colin Ellar, cabinet member for environment, said: “Because of massive national demand we have had to put back the roll out as suppliers are struggling to keep up with orders.”
The one month delay is because councils across the country who received funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government have placed an unprecedented level number of orders for bins, meaning manufacturers are struggling to meet normal lead times.
Letters will be going out in the coming weeks to residents in the pilot areas, giving details on when they will receive their wheeled bin and explaining how the trial will work.
Cllr Ellar said: “I want to make it crystal clear the new wheeled bin pilot scheme will not mean residents losing weekly collections anywhere in the borough.
“Wheeled bins should also help keep our streets cleaner, because they won’t be prone to splitting or being ripped open by vermin, which creates more mess for bin crews and our street cleaners to deal with.
“We also hope the bin trial will encourage residents to recycle more. The more we recycle, we can save council taxpayers’ money from paying landfill tax and spend more on services.”
The trial will see wheeled bins replace black rubbish bags in five areas of the borough – Chiswick Riverside, Syon, Heston West, Hounslow West and Feltham West.
Around 7,500 homes are due to take part in the trial, with householders receiving a 140-litre capacity black bin to put out instead of rubbish sacks for non-recyclable waste. The Council estimated it would cost £125,000 for the trial, including hiring a special vehicle to lift the bins costing £3,600, publicity, and the cost of 7,500 bins of 140 litre size. Larger families could apply for a 240 litre bin. The estimated savings total £59,000 a year in landfill fees for the trial area.
Chiswick councillors have opposed the plan on a number of grounds, including that it will disadvantage the elderly and those who do not have outside space for the bins. They also claim there was a lack of consultation and say it will not contribute to higher recycling figures.
However, Cllr Ellar has said that the bins will make it easier to keep streets cleaner than using black bin bags, and that it will encourage people to recycle and will save the Council money.
May 9, 2013
