Council to meet public about waste contract
Dates have been set for public meetings where
local people can ask questions and find out more about
Harlow Council’s proposals for future household waste and
recycling collections.
The meetings are part of a major information
campaign which has begun to keep residents informed of the
preparations for the new waste contract.
To attend the public meetings residents must
book their places in advance by telephoning 446869 or email:
terri.marjoram@harlow.gov.uk.
The meetings will take place from 7-9pm as follows:
Wednesday 17th September
2008
Latton Bush Centre, Southern Way
Monday 22nd September
2008
Council Chamber in the Civic Centre
As well as confirming meetings the Council has
setup a dedicated web page for the proposals on its
website. The site has a list of frequently
asked questions and will be kept up to date with the
latest on the contract. In the coming weeks a series of
advertisements will appear in the local papers about the proposals
and in the Council’s magazine Harlow
Times.
Council Leader Andrew Johnson, said: “When the
next stage in the renewal of the waste contract was agreed in July
we made a commitment that we would give local people the
opportunity to find out more about the proposals and ask
questions.
"August is a busy month for most households so
that’s why we have decided to hold the meetings in
September. As well as meetings, information can also be found
on the Council's website, shortly in the local
press, the Council’s magazine – Harlow Times – and at
the town show and by visiting the Civic Centre."
Following concerns raised by
pensioners over wheelie bins Councillor Johnson
and senior councillors met with the Pensioner’s
Action Group last Friday (15 August). Cllr Johnson has also
received a letter from Age Concern.
Cllr Johnson, says: “I’m glad the Pensioner’s
Action Group took up our offer to meet face-to-face because it gave
us the opportunity to explain our proposals. Obviously there are
concerns from pensioners. One of the things which has come out as a
result is that we would like to work with the Pensioners Action
Group and Age Concern to help identify people who could be offered
assisted collections. It's also important to note that not every
property would have wheeled bins. One in seven low rise properties
won't."
On 8 July the Council’s Environment &
Community Committee agreed the next stage in renewing the town’s
waste and recycling contract in June 2009. Reducing the town’s
rubbish and making sure more waste is recycled and composted rather
than thrown away is the focus of major changes
proposed. Changes to household collections are due to come
into force from Autumn 2009.
Harlow has improved its recycling over the
last few years, and has performed well with the system it currently
has. However significant system changes are needed if the town is
going to improve its recycling performance dramatically. This along
with reducing landfill space and the increase in costs and
penalties of sending rubbish to landfill sites is putting pressure
on how the town’s waste should be collected.
The final system is yet to be decided when the
contractors’ bids are returned. The current preferred
proposals could see wheelie bins for dry recycling and refuse
introduced for 22,500 properties. Around 4500 will stay with black
bags and existing bags and boxes. Food waste would be collected
weekly from separate bins. Recycling and refuse would be picked up
alternate weeks. Flats would continue with the current collection
system along with weekly food waste collections.