23 July - Use your food waste bin or be fined
While the borough struggles with a much reduced waste collection service right now as
the Unite Union once more throws its weight around, the Places Scrutiny
Committee discussed food waste and floated ideas for a wider range of services.
On food waste Councillor June Slaughter (Conservative, Sidcup) said
that last year’s strike pushed things “backwards very considerably and it will be
difficult to get back to where we were before”.
She said the Council is failing to get across to residents the implications of
not separating food waste and significant numbers of them are putting it in the general
waste bin which has both “ecological and financial costs”.
She spoke regretfully about the government not allowing residents to be fined
for transgressions and if people are not putting food waste bins out “we must do something about that”.
I had not until now put Councillor Slaughter down as a petty dictator
and maybe she should take a step back and think it out again.
My food waste bin is in pristine condition having never been used and not so much as an apple core has ever
gone into the green bin. My green bin is very often empty too. But apparently I am one of Mrs. Slaughter’s undesirables.
On she went. “We must get tougher about people who do not use their food waste bins.”.
She recommended street surveys to identify those who are not putting their food
bins out. Me thinks the self confessed bee in June’s bonnet has grown too big for its own jack boots, if I may mix two metaphors.
Cabinet Member Sue Gower had obviously given more thought to food waste than
the member for Sidcup. Linking food waste to the obesity crisis she said many
households live off fast food and the only thing left to throw away is the
packaging. She said the Council should “better understand what goes on in different areas”.
(Dear Sue, I have never in my life ordered a takeaway. Boring, that’s me.)
Cabinet Member Peter Craske said he was not in favour of penalties and the
borough’s recycling success owes everything to education and encouragement. He
even gave credit to the former Labour Leader Chris Ball for starting the present system.
The Agenda referred to many other aspects of waste collection.
The Council will trial the kerbside collection of unwanted small electrical items including batteries.
Similarly textiles. There have been recycling workshops in Blackfen library as
part of the educate the public initiative.
The Council is encouraging the re-use and repair of items and encouraging the use of “Real Nappies”.
Only one Councillor showed any interest in these new initiatives. Mabel Ogundayo
(Labour, Thamesmead East) wanted to know how the “Library of Things” would work in practice.
Borrowing tools etc. instead of buying them. The responsible Council Officer unfortunately
didn’t have a clue. You can be pretty sure that is one idea which will never see the light of day.