Our separated refuse is just going to waste

For several weeks now the residents of Ray Lea Close have watched the ‘bin men’ empty our carefully separated food waste into our general waste bins before tipping this combined waste into the lorry.

Several of the residents have already complained to the council about this.

On Saturday, March 13, however, we watched the Serco contractors:

W Empty the food waste bin into the black general waste bin, then

W Empty the black bin contents into the blue recycling bin, and then finally

W Empty the blue bin (now full of combined food waste, general waste and recycled waste) into the same compartment in the bin lorry.

When asked why they were not treating our waste separately, they have given various reasons including “a problem with . . . . the lorries . . . . the fuel . . . . staff shortages . . . . and . . . . everything”!

On Monday, March 1, RBWM launched a ‘Waste Less, Recycle More’ campaign, claiming that throughout March it would be raising awareness of the connection between food waste and climate change and encouraging residents to cut down on the amount of food they throw away and to recycle everything that can’t be used (including out of date, leftover or raw food), using the food waste caddies provided.

RBWM informed us that: ‘70 per cent of all wasted food comes from our homes and food waste is one of the biggest contributors to climate change. With roughly one third of food produced around the world wasted, it’s no wonder that a massive 25-30 per cent of global greenhouse gases come from the food system alone.’

Councillor David Coppinger, lead member for Environmental Services, said: “Reducing the amount of food thrown away and using the caddies to dispose of it properly is just one simple way our residents can make a difference. All food waste can be disposed of in the caddy and residents can be confident that by doing so, they are playing their part in helping the planet.” Unfortunately, Serco is unfit for purpose. Their gross incompetence is making an absolute mockery of the council's 'Waste Less, Recycle More' campaign, and the efforts of Ray Lea Close residents to back this campaign thus count for nothing.

We are not being allowed to make a difference!

We cannot be confident that we are playing our part in helping the planet because Serco are undermining our efforts.

Please will you address Serco’s appalling record and give the residents of the borough the service they are paying for and help us all to ‘make a difference.’

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