Coronavirus is continuing to put increased pressure on waste services in parts of London because of staff reductions and increased levels of household waste.
Councils have been reporting that they are still faced with service suspensions and disruptions, although workforce levels may be starting to ‘stabilise’, according to the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB).
Some authorities are managing to maintain a full service including weekly garden waste collections, such as in Hillingdon, while at the other extreme, authorities such as Redbridge have had to stop collecting recyclables.
Redbridge
One London authority which stopped collecting recycling is Redbridge. Last month it made the “difficult decision” to stop collecting recycling because of staff illness and self-isolation. The council has told residents that instead of going to landfill, recycling will be turned into refuse-deprived fuel.
Redbridge is currently not emptying recycling boxes
On 23 April, Redbridge council leader Jas Athwal, told letsrecycle.com: “We took the difficult decision to stop separate recycling collections, and concentrate on collecting household rubbish. Unfortunately, due to staff illness and self-isolation, we didn’t have enough drivers and staff available to carry out all the rubbish and recycling collections safely.
“We know that recycling is very important, so we’ve been encouraging our residents to reduce and reuse their items as much as possible. We’re also asking residents to hold on to their recycling, if possible and practical, until the service resumes. We’re working hard to reinstate the recycling service as soon as possible.”
Richmond
In Richmond, south west London, the council said on 22 April that household recycling volumes have increased since the UK lockdown began, putting increased pressure on collection services.
Residents have been asked to be ‘patient’ as recycling tonnage has reportedly risen from 33 to 47 tonnes per day, causing vehicles to fill early and prevent some crews from completing routes.
Chair of Richmond’s Environment and sustainability committee Martin Elengorn said:“We are working hard to ensure that your bins are still collected in the coming weeks and months. We have added additional capacity within the service. But we need your help. On average over the past few weeks, each household has gone from producing 1.95kg to 2.75 kg each week in recycling.”
Waste crews continue to do their best in difficult cirumstances. Please help them & leave your boxes/bins/bags JUST inside your front boundary no later than 6am on collection day. And remember to thank them with a homemade card! #RichmondGetsCreative https://t.co/FdFzRLwCkR pic.twitter.com/ChtGgpczdL
— Richmond Council (@LBRUT) April 20, 2020
Greenwich
Greenwich council urged residents to take their rubbish home with them as images have emerged of overflowing park bins on social media on the 17 April.
A statement from the council on its website said: “Due to a reduction in staff, we may not be able to provide residents and businesses with a full waste collection service. We are working hard with the resources we have to ensure waste is cleared as quickly and as regularly as possible. Please bear with us, we will get to you as soon as we can.”
Love your #RoyalGreenwich parks & open spaces by taking your rubbish & dog waste bags home with you after your daily exercise.
With severely reduced numbers of staff to clean the parks, we need your help please to stop park rubbish & poo bins overflowing.
Thank you
pic.twitter.com/03FPkHggJK
— Royal Greenwich (@Royal_Greenwich) April 17, 2020
Croydon
Croydon residents have been asked to “bear with” potential delays as a reduced workforce due to the coronavirus crisis has meant that bin collections may be later than usual.
Croydon council said: “Rubbish and recycling collections are taking place with a. reduced workforce, with food and rubbish prioritised. Your collection may be later than usual.”
LWARB
According to LWARB, the situation is ‘constantly changing’ on a daily basis and staff levels may be beginning to stabilise.
In a statement to letsrecycle.com on 23 April, Antony Buchan, from LWARB said: “Our focus is currently on supporting all London boroughs and waste disposal authorities in the capital to keep the city’s waste and recycling services moving and keeping Londoners informed about how they can reduce their waste and keep recycling during these difficult times.”
Mr Buchan added: “Local authorities have told us that, after a difficult start to the lockdown, staffing levels are now stabilising (and so is their ability to maintain services) as staff return from self-isolation, or are re-allocated from other less critical service areas to add capacity. This reflects the situation nationally as indicated by the weekly local government survey delivered by ADEPT and LARAC.”
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
