Now, nearly a month into the new collection routine, it is possible to see where the challenges lie.  Predictably, the problem is not the volume of waste but the willingness of residents to change lifelong habits and start recycling at the level of our European cousins.

Even though including our area in phase 1 was a late change and we were not properly consulted, there was support for the change at our General Meeting on 22nd February 2012. We therefore start from the position that this is a good thing and that council and residents have a responsibility to make it a success.

After one fortnightly ‘black-bin’ collection, we need from Veolia:

• Good feedback on how it is working and, importantly reassurance that measures are being taken to ensure its success
• Swift action to deal with the problems: they are mostly to do with overflowing bins and piles of rubbish in front gardens of houses in multiple occupation and groups who don’t or won’t engage (including landlords who, in our area seem to take no responsibility for the way their premises are kept)
• The number of wheelie bins to be kept under review, to avoid gardens become a sea of bins

The change illustrates the stress that the uncontrolled conversion of houses and multiple occupation puts on our area. This requires joint action from the planning and housing departments of the council.

We very much anticipate this being a success but clearly it’s a partnership between council, Veolia and residents. We need to meet Veolia and the Council.