The District Council cabinet met in confidential session last Wednesday and agreed on a new contract for a “Materials Recovery Facility” That means a new contract for recycling all the dry recyclables from our wheelie bins.
The Council website now says:
Contract for Materials (1) That, subject to the inclusion of an arrangement whereby some of the savings can be used for Recovery Facility the purpose of further waste analysis, the contract to provide a Materials Recovery Facility (Minute 214/10) (MRF) from 1 October 2010 to 31 March 2015 be awarded to the company identified as Bidder D in the exempt report (with an option to extend by a further 7 years).
(2) That the decision is urgent and not subject to call-in/referral because of the financial implications of delaying the commencement of the new contract. (HES)
We aren’t allowed to say much more than that. It’s been a frustrating business for the Lib Dem councillors trying to keep an eye on this because, of course, we aren’t allowed to speak during cabinet meetings or ask questions.
However June Lumley went in beforehand specially to the council offices to discuss this with officers and Chris Black sat in the back of the cabinet meeting listening and taking notes. We are satisfied with the outcome.
Perhaps they could replace the apes that appear to just throw our wheely bins back in the general direction of our driveway.
This week my wife’s car was damaged when our compost bin was dumped on our flowerbed, where it fell against the car and left a scratch in the top coat of paint. After T-cut and several coats of polish there is still a visible mark. Although it isn’t big enough to warrant a more extensive repair, it could easily have been worse.
A few weeks ago the bin was dumped on the same flowerbed where it squashed one of our plants that my daughter had grown from seed.
Why are there so many rules relating to home-owners presenting their bins, but the collectors can do what they like?
I would like to place a large “NON COMPIANCE” red sticker of shame across the side of the recycling truck, containing wording that cannot be published on this website.
Following on from my previous comment regarding my wife’s car being scratched by the bin-men during the collection on the August bank holiday, last week they dumped the purple bin back on my flowerbed again, and this time dented the rear nearside panel of my wife’s car.
I’ve put a complaint in with Rochford council, and they put me onto SITA who, to give them credit, sent a supervisor round very promptly. I showed him the damage and photos of how the bin was left. He appologised and told me he would tear a new one for the operators on that shift, but as for the damage I will have to deal with SITA’s insurers.
However I am reluctant to do this because I know from experience that pursuing any claim through insurers, no matter if it is no fault on my part, will lead to a marker being put on the insurance database that will cause my wife’s premium to go up next time we renew – apparently you become statistically a higher risk, even if the vehicle is parked on your driveway with no one in it and another party damages your static vehicle (you gotta love statistics!). It’s not worth it for something a mobile dent repair company may be able to fix for 70-80 quid.
So there you go, I feel completely screwed over. Hopefully the bin-men will be more careful in future, but I’m going to review where I park my cars on collection day.
I can foresee asking a question at full Council on this. Could I come round tonight and see the dent myself?