Communal Bins - Rubbish in the Community

The Council held a meeting for residents recently at which plans for new refuse collection arrangements were unveiled.

It seems that the idea of communal bins and recycling are firmly established as the way forward.

This will mean that our streets are to be invaded not just by platoons of communal rubbish bins but also by whole regiments of recycling containers.

The Council has obtained the views of people in the areas where the communal bins have already been on trial. 1,520 people responded to a questionnaire. Around 90% of those replying found the bins easy to use and thought the streets were cleaner since the bins were introduced.

Views about the fact that the bins take parking spaces were split about 50:50. Some people did see some problems with the bins such as the need for more frequent emptying, fly tipping when the bins are full and the smell.

These opinions are from people who have had only rubbish bins in their areas. There has been no trial of the re-cycling scheme.

The main plans for this area include the following:

Regency Square:

  • 4 containers outside number 59
  • 4 containers outside number 8
  • 2 outside number 37
  • 2 in the north west corner

Queensbury Mews:

  • 3 containers outside number 9

Clarence and Russell Square:

  • At least 3 or 4 containers each

Castle and Stone Street:

  • At least 3 or 4 containers each

Of the people who attended the "consultation" meeting, none expressed any support for these plans. In fact many were quite horrified. The Cityclean officers who were there emphasised that there had been overwhelming support for the idea of recycling.

Did those expressing that support know exactly what the re-cycling would involve?

Society secretary, John Gavin, who was at the meeting, drew attention to the recycling centre hear Montpelier Crescent. This is an appalling eyesore, as our photographs show, which is a blight on one of Brighton's finest areas of nineteenth century of townscape. The Cityclean officers agreed that they needed to get this area under control. They promised to work hard to ensure that the bins in our area were not such a mess.

The Society committee will be meeting shortly to discuss these plans and decide what response to make. The initial signs are that a number of members are very unhappy with them. If you have a view, please let us know.

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