Waste & Recycling Is A Growing Problem & Your Views Count

---

Take part in the Online survey that will shape waste services in Wandsworth

Households in Wandsworth are being invited to help shape the borough’s refuse, recycling and street cleaning services over the next eight years by taking part in an online survey.

Town hall chiefs are drawing up a list of services to include in the borough’s new waste contract and want to find out if these choices reflect the views of residents.

Completing the online survey should only take about five minutes – and the priorities that local people identify will be used to determine the final contract terms.

Environment spokesman Cllr Sarah McDermott said:
“The council has a legal duty to collect refuse and recycling and to also clear litter from the public highway.   In addition, we provide a whole range of extra, non-essential waste services – not because we have a legal duty to provide them, but because we believe they make the borough a cleaner and therefore a better and more attractive place to live. The council currently spends £4m a year providing these extra benefits.

“We are now drawing up a new contract for all our waste services and would like to know which of the extra ones residents think are important and would like to keep.”

Examples of non-statutory services currently provided include the on-demand collection of garden waste, carrying out nightly refuse collections from flats above town centre businesses and the routine cleaning of bulk waste containers on housing estates.

If residents decided these services were not a priority and could be replaced with more cost effective alternatives, it would save council tax payers more than £1.2m a year. 

The council also carries out twice daily sweeping of some busy roads and pavements. Reducing this to one sweep a day would save council tax payers £300,000 a year.

Cllr McDermott added:

“It is really important that people take part in this online consultation. Their voices will help us decide the best way of delivering value-for-money refuse, recycling and street cleaning services in the years ahead.”

To take part in the consultation people should visit www.wandsworthmatters.co.uk/uc/refuseandcleansingoptions 

 

The consultation runs until Thursday, April 21. It is being hosted by Globalpark, a market leader in online research and a company that adheres to the highest standards of data protection. All personal information will be treated in the strictest confidence.

For more information about refuse, recycling and street cleaning in the borough log on to www.wandsworth.gov.uk/waste.

 

 

March 29, 2011