Ealing Must Not Become 'Queen of The Wheelie Bins'
Conservatives say they will continue to fight the 'plastic monstrosities'
Despite much opposition and a petition signed by over 7,000, fortnightly collections, and wheelie bins will be introduced in Ealing next year.
Labour cited their political majority of 53 councillors as a clear mandate for making the change to a fortnightly wheelie bin collection service, which they claimed would also improve the boroughs recycling rate by 7 percent and save the Council money.
Cllr Greg Stafford, Opposition Leader said:
''For Labour to ignore such a strong petition of over 7,000 cross party residents shows how arrogant they are.
''If they are a 100 percent confident that a fortnightly wheelie bin service collection is right for Ealing, why won't they ask residents?
''The Conservative administration in 2007 consulted with residents and an overwhelming majority said no.
''For Labour to claim their political majority of 53 Councillors is a mandate to force through this major controversial service change on over 120,000 households demonstrates that Labour has forgotten they are here to provide a service to residents and clearly needs to be recycled.
''There is no evidence which suggests that the fortnightly weekly collection service will improve the boroughs recycling rate. Moving to fortnightly service does not mean that people will recycle less. It only means that the contractor is getting to doing less for the same pay. Only Labour would believe that this is an improved service.
''I would like to assure residents that your Conservative councillors will continue to fight this issue as we refuse to have Ealing blighted by these ugly plastic monstrosities. We want to remain the Queen of the Suburbs and not become Queen of the Wheelie Bins.''
There is a European-wide target to ensure half of household waste is recycled by 2020.
Councillor Julian Bell, leader of Ealing Council, said:
''Ealing spent £10million on landfill charges last year. This is an enormous waste of money and resources. We have undertaken a number of initiatives to encourage people to recycle more and now a fundamental change is needed. The new wheelie bins will make it easier for people to recycle and will help to keep our streets cleaner by preventing foxes and vermin from ripping open refuse bags and stopping spillage from open recycling containers.
“We have listened to residents carefully throughout the decision-making process and it has been discussed at scrutiny meetings and with residents at ward forum meetings. While some people have said they don’t want change, other residents are supportive and agree that action is needed to increase recycling rates and to keep our streets cleaner.''
The changes are expected to be introduced in late spring 2016.
29th July 2015
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