• THE new rubbish collection system which started in April does not seem to achieve any of its stated aims, and may even decrease the recycling rates.

Camden’s environment chief, Meric Apak, apologised for the “failures” of the service but went on to say that the vast majority of the collections had been “completed satisfactorily”.

I wonder whether Cllr Apak ever checked “the facts on the ground”. These show that we no longer have “teething problems” but an utter failure of the new system.

My street, part of the Swiss Cottage “gardens area”, has become the “bins avenue” where green and black bins, along with brown caddies, overflowed rubbish, garden waste, and all sorts of unused, dumped, items are left on the pavement, causing a health and safety hazard as well as risks for the disabled, elderly, toddlers and babies.

Recycled stuff is left unattended for weeks as bins are emptied on a random basis.

Whenever I call the Veolia helpline I’m told, politely, that they cannot say when the missed bins will be emptied as helpline staff have no direct connection to the rubbish collection team. Needless to say, that I had to call repeatedly before missed bins were emptied.

This is not an isolated occurrence. Just recently my domestic rubbish was left unemptied for more than four weeks, attracting unwelcome pests and rodents alongside decaying smell.

I am quite sure many New Journal readers have similar experiences. I would encourage residents to actively protest by writing to the New Journal, their ward councillors or the chief executive of Camden Mike Cooke.

The new system is badly designed and miserably executed and managed. Veolia, which failed to deliver the previous system, has inexplicably been granted a further eight-year contract (with no proper evaluation, tender, bidding and consultation with the public).

My advice to Camden Council would be:

• Get rid of the multi-coloured bins and caddies system. Allocate a maximum of four extra-big bins (two for recycling and two for domestic rubbish) to any property which has four or more flats, alongside a major sanitised and lined food bin, thus, replacing the useless brown caddies.

• Install an ongoing, same-day, inspection procedure of the weekly collection. This could be further assisted by a points system of rewards and penalties which would be applied to each street/area with results periodically published in the local press.

• Introduce a direct access for residents to the collection team either through the helpline or a direct call number.

• Cancel the new procedure of leaving bins on the pavement and restore requiring the collection team to return the bins to their place.

• Introduce a special green tax as part of the council tax dedicated to improving the recycling system. This extra green tax may help discount, or get rid of, the new added payment for the collection of garden waste.

The new system is ineffective and should be totally overhauled as soon as possible.

RUTH TENNE
Goldhurst Terrace, NW6