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David Maxwell with his recycling boxes |
Recyling check ‘snoopers’
Council team sent out for ‘good rummage’ through homes’ bins
EVERY recycling box in the borough could be subjected to spot checks and searches at dawn as part of a council initiative to improve the recycling service, the New Journal can reveal.
Without telling residents, Camden has been using a team of “Waste and Recycling Advisors” – whose main job is to give talks in schools and at community events – to search through boxes.
But residents who have been affected by the spot checks said the team was “snooping”.
The practice has been going on for several years, although it is rarely publicised by the council.
A spokeswoman said the team’s investigations would allow the Town Hall to see what kind of items residents were not recycling and whether they needed reminding.
For example, if there had been a drop in the recycling of tin cans, Camden could send leaflets and notices to remind people that they can be recycled.
But the sight of “furtive, dayglo-clad figures, complete with clipboard, crouched low over the recycling bins” at the break of dawn, has led some to make accusations that the Town Hall is being too nosey.
David Maxwell, of Constantine Road in South End Green, said he was alarmed to be told a woman had been seen having a “good old rummage” in his recycling box at 7.15am on Thursday.
He said: “They could have been absolutely anybody and some of these fraudsters carry out operations by stealing from bins. What is wrong about this is they didn’t inform you or ask for the permission of the residents, and it’s very high handed. We take great exception to council employees snooping around early in the morning on our property and rifling through our bins.”
Mr Maxwell said he fears that it could ultimately lead to the council introducing penalties and fines for people who fail to recycle “correctly”.
But Lib Dem councillor Alexis Rowell, the council’s eco-champion and a recycling campaigner, insisted there was no need to worry.
Some London councils, including Barnet, have made recycling compulsory and punish those who do not take part – but Cllr Rowell said fines would not be introduced in Camden.
“Compulsion does lead to an increase in recycling, but we need more carrot than stick,” he said. “We’ve got enough tools in our armoury to persuade people that it’s right to recycle rather than to hit them with sticks. I’m not against sticks, but not unless we’ve got the appropriate number of carrots as well.”
Cllr Rowell added: “We’re starting to get to a position where actually, most of your rubbish can be recycled in one form or another.”
From October 1, all plastics can be recycled and by April next year food waste, paper and card will be collected separately.
A council spokesman said: “Camden Council carries out occasional random checks on residents’ recycling boxes. The information gathered means the Council can improve its communications, for example if particular items are not being recycled enough, residents can be encouraged to recycle the item more.
“No information is kept on individual premises, and the information is used only to ensure residents recycle as many items as possible.” |
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