Memorandum by Doretta Cocks BSc, Campaign
for Weekly Waste Collection (RC 51)
1. INTRODUCTION
I am the founder of a national Campaign for
Weekly Waste Collection.
My local authority, Eastleigh Borough Council,
was one of the first to introduce alternate weekly collections
in trial areas in 1996. It was evident from the first summer experience
of this scheme that the fortnightly collection of domestic waste
is inadequate and, in my opinion, poses a threat to public health.
2. MY EXPERIENCE
2.1 Local
It was not until 2001 that I became more involved
with this issue—a serious rat infestation in my garden led
me to call the Council's pest control department and it was then
that I first suggested a link to the alternate weekly scheme.
Eastleigh Borough Council's policy was to issue as standard a
140 litre wheeled bin for residual waste. Many residents had to
place side waste by their bins and I believed this could be attracting
rodents. The Council appeared to be unconcerned. When I requested
figures for reported rat sightings for the 10 years to 2001 I
studied these and noted that from 1991 to 1996 a steady increase
year on year was recorded. From 1996 to 1997 when several areas
were trialling alternate weekly collections, reported rat sightings
more than doubled in this year alone. When I asked to be informed
of the areas where these increases were reported I was told they
did not have that information.
I organised a local petition and surveyed 139
households—85% of the householders I visited were eager
to sign my petition to request our Council to revert to weekly
waste collections. I had no idea people were experiencing fly
and maggot infestations on a regular basis and almost all residents
commented on foul odours emanating from bins in warm/hot weather
conditions. There were also many reports of rat infestations.
This information was passed to our Council in January 2002. The
petition was ignored and three months later the Council introduced
a £34 pest control fee for treatment of rats and mice.
2.2 National
I have been researching alternate weekly collections
for more than 5 years. When I started being contacted by residents
and Councillors from other boroughs in the UK, following local
press articles, I eventually decided to set up a Campaign website
to support the residents who were not being told that some councils
had reverted to weekly collections.
Neither had they been told about the summer
problems associated with these schemes.
One only has to check council websites to see
all those operating alternate weekly collections have "maggot
advice" for residents. I have yet to discover any such advice
on council websites where they are still operating weekly collections.
From August 2004, when less than 50 councils
were operating alternate weekly schemes and our publicity was
scarce, the Campaign has grown from a few hundred members to many
thousands—in the past few weeks thousands more people have
joined due to the immense press interest. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists,
Councillors, refuse collectors and of course residents have expressed
their concerns. Every resident who describes their problems reinforces
my belief that public health will sooner or later be compromised.
Can we take that risk?
3. PUBLIC HEALTH
It is very difficult for residents to provide
substantive evidence of ill health or increased infestations as
a result of a 14 day collection frequency. A stomach upset could
be treated by a remedy available in all pharmacies and no specific
link can be proven. Recent health reports and laboratory tests
carried out for national newspapers, however, suggest there is
a real risk to public health. The Defra/Wycombe study undertaken
by Environs Consulting and Cranfield University concluded there
were no adverse health effects to residents as a result of alternate
weekly collections. This study concentrated on Wycombe District
residents and refuse collectors. In Wycombe residents have the
option to place food waste, including meat and fish, in either
the general waste bin or the garden waste bin, effectively receiving
a weekly collection of most organic waste if they so wish. This
is not representative of most areas operating these schemes and
should not be hailed as such.
The Appendix gives examples of the problems
residents are experiencing.[57]
This is just a small sample of the many thousands of e-mails I
have received. The people are speaking but most of the local authorities
are not listening. 11 councils have reverted to weekly collections
in the past few years. Recycling is important but residents are
using alternative methods of disposing of their waste, such as,
fly tipping and paying private waste carriers to collect their
waste on the weeks councils do not. Public health should be of
the highest priority.
4. CONCLUSION
I would respectfully request that the Committee
considers applying the Precautionary Principle and insists that
any waste containing organic matter (food, nappies, incontinence
pads, sanitary towels and pet faeces) should be collected at least
once a week in accordance with the World Health Organization recommendation.
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