Request
Request summary:
Request concerning problems with litter and flytipping ...... which has worsened considerably during lockdown.
Concern expressed by the enquirer that limiting access to the reuse and recycling centre via the booking system may be contributing to this problem.
The enquirer stated that one person had to wait three weeks for an appointment to drop off waste at the reuse and recycling centre.
Now lockdown rules are easing, the enquirer asked that NLWA reconsider the justification for an appointment system and also requested that NLWA consider extending the operating hours of the site "in order to tackle serious flytipping problems which have been occurring over recent weeks."
Response
Thank you for your letter concerning litter and fly-tipping during lockdown and a suggested link with the introduction of a temporary booking system and changes to opening hours at the Summers Lane Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC).
We recognise the value our residents place on having access to a network of eight RRCs north London, including Summers Lane which has the highest capacity of the facilities. It has been an important priority during the global COVID-19 pandemic to ensure the sites remain accessible and as safe as possible.
Like other authorities across the country NLWA closed all the north London RRCs during the first COVID-19 lockdown. The RRCs were re-opened following guidance from Central Government and industry relevant bodies. www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-to-local-authorities-on-prioritising-waste-collections/managing-household-waste-and-recycling-centres-hwrcs-in-england-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic.
However, to open in accordance with that advice NLWA and its contractor LondonEnergy Limited introduced an online booking system on a temporary basis; this is in order to protect the health and safety of both residents and staff. A separate booking system was, and continues to remain, in place for commercial vehicles (eg Vans) used by residents to dispose of non-commercial waste. The temporary restrictions allow us to ensure that the service can be operated safely, for example some containers were removed to allow more distance between them, but with fewer containers we are also limiting the tonnage we can accept on any given day. Handrails have also been sanitised where sites have steps leading up to the containers – a booking system helps to manage visitor numbers and allows the site staff to carry out such tasks. Importantly, during this time, the booking system has helped to smooth out the visitor flow. The majority of RRCs in London are subject to booking and where sites don’t have such systems in operation, residents are warned of the risk of long waits to enter facilities. The current position on the booking system for Summers Lane is that are plentiful slots available for all days. The same is true for other north London sites including Western Road in Haringey which is only 15 minutes’ drive from Summers Lane.
As we move into the Summer and we expect to see further lifting of COVID-19 restrictions we will consult users of the RRC network and other stakeholders on the future of the booking system. While some residents ....... would prefer to stop the booking system, we are also aware of many users who have welcomed the the reliability of access and reduced queuing that a booking system provides. A decision on the way forward will be taken following consultation.
In terms of a link to increased litter and flytipping, we all agree that there is no excuse for such behaviour. We can see from declarations made by our seven constituent boroughs that there has been a slight increase in fly-tipped materials which has been offset by a corresponding drop in Street Cleansing arisings. This could relate to waste classification rather than any genuine movement in tonnage. When 2019/20 is compared to 2020/21 the combined tonnage remains stable at 55,000t in each year. In general, residents who will take the trouble to pack material into a car and travel to the nearest RRC are highly unlikely to fly tip that material if they have to wait a small time for a booking slot. Our records show that waits for booking slots have also been minimal with only a handful of hourly booking slots reaching capacity. Even over this bank holiday Easter weekend there were slots available to visit Summers Lane RRC.
Turning to the opening hours of the sites, these were last reviewed in April 2017 ( ......... section 2 and Appendix 1 of the Operations Update report available on our website shows the consideration of the matter). The review included an assessment of the number of residents visiting each RRC and across each day of the week. There is a balance between the costs of opening a site for longer against the benefits of providing a more comprehensive service.
I hope this response explains the current position and the rationale behind our approach to serving residents and protecting health. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Yours sincerely
