Lose Your Wheelie Bin – Pay a Fine
Hounslow Council introducing charge of £50 for replacement bins
As part of a new series of measures approved recently by Hounslow Council residents are to be fined £50 if they lose a wheelie bin.
The changes are being introduced as part of the new recycling contract managed by Recycle 360 (R360), a subsidiary of Lampton 360, a wholly-owned council company, which is launching on 31 October. The contract has been criticised by opposition councillors for not having been put out to tender.
If a resident’s wheelie bin is lost, stolen or burnt there will now be a £50 charge to cover the cost of delivery and VAT. Any bins lost after collection (by crew) will be replaced free of charge. No charge will be made for replacement recycling boxes. Concerns have already been raised that the charge will result in some residents stealing their neighbours’ bins if their own is lost or damaged.
There will also be a charge if a collection is missed due a bin not being placed out in time, having the incorrect waste, being too heavy or with items not placed in the bin. If residents now want their waste collected in these circumstances they will have to pay £50.
Councillor Amrit Mann, deputy leader of Hounslow Council, said: “It costs money for us to send a refuse vehicle to empty a bin that was put out at the wrong time – why should this cost be footed by the council tax payer? The new policy makes the consequence of this and other collection issues that can impact the service clear for residents.
"The transfer of the waste contract to Recycle 360 has given us the opportunity to review all elements of the current service and create a business that is fair and balanced, fit for purpose and provides value for money for the council tax payer of this borough."
The Council say that they have introduced a new IT system available to collection staff will make it easier for residents to understand why their bin may not have been collected in real time, rather than wait until the following day. Residents must report a problem with collection on their scheduled day of collection or the following working day.
Fortnightly collections for general waste will also begin between mid-January and mid-March 2017 as part of the new contract. For recyling the current mix of bags and boxes will be replaced by a boxes only system with weekly collections of all items. In addition to the existing paper, glass, food, mixed plastics and cans, R360 will also collect cooking oil (bottled) and will continue to collect bagged textiles and small electrical items. They say due to lack of demand, engine oil, mobile phones, batteries and print cartridges will no longer be collected.
October 14, 2016