Fly-tippers are 'ruining' Brighton and Hove (From The Argus)
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Fly-tippers are 'ruining' Brighton and Hove
11:10am Sunday 27th May 2012 in News By Ben James
Irresponsible residents are “ruining” the look of the city by fly-tipping next to communal bins.
Community groups have reported everything from washing machines and mattresses to gym equipment and lampshades being discarded at the side of the road in Brighton and Hove.
Liam Mandville, from the Brunswick and Regency Neighbourhood Action Group, said the problem was “disgusting” and called on the council and residents to take more responsibility.
He said: “It has been particularly bad recently. It makes our city look a mess and obviously has an impact on the environment.
“Residents need to take more responsibility when throwing things out and try using secondhand websites such as Craigslist.com.
“I also think the council needs to be more flexible with its collections.
Somebody should be on call so that if a bin is overflowing, they can be contacted and come and collect it, almost like a rapid response team.”
He added the worst affected streets appeared to be Sillwood Place, Waterloo Street and Oriental Place along with the Moulsecoomb and Hollingdean areas.
Flemmich Webb, from the Brighton 10:10 environment group, added: “I think it’s disgraceful.
“We should be proud of our city and do everything possible to look after it.
“Not only does it look a mess but also causes an obstruction – especially for disabled people.”
ABrighton and Hove City Council spokesman urged residents to take any bulky items to the city’s recycling centres off Old Shoreham Road in Hove and at Wilson Avenue in Brighton.
He added: “Communal bins are designed for household refuse only – not large bulky items and we would urge people not to leave these alongside bins.
“As well as being taken to our recycling centre it can be collected for removal by using the bulky waste collection service.”
Collections can be arranged by calling 01273 608142.
Comments(13)
cvs
says...
12:52pm Sun 27 May 12
menowhere
says...
12:56pm Sun 27 May 12
mimseycal
says...
12:56pm Sun 27 May 12
NickBrt
says...
1:09pm Sun 27 May 12
clubrob6
says...
2:23pm Sun 27 May 12
caeos
says...
2:34pm Sun 27 May 12
Rita Snatch
says...
4:10pm Sun 27 May 12
So, just in the slum areas then?
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
4:56pm Sun 27 May 12
Here are some possible reasons:
B&H has the lowest level of car ownership therefore taking stuff to the dump is impossible for many people.
The council website suggests bus routes to the dumps....I would like to see the Argus attempt to get an old fridge on one of Roger's buses.
Paying to take it away is actually quite expensive.
The dump opening times are shockingly poor. Hove dump closes at the weekends at 1.30pm.
The queues at Wilson Avenue are extremely long at weekends as Hove shuts early and in the week (when most people are at work) the dumps close at 4.30pm.
Many properties are rented so landlords dump stuff in gardens and pavements as they don't want to pay to have it removed.
Also cityclean don't help. My students neighbours folded cardboard nicely next to the recycling boxes. The council have refused to collect it as it's not in the black boxes. They don't have cars so the cardboard is left and now fly tippers have dumped furniture and other junk next to it creating a fly tip.
Look at the cause of the issues and offer a solution.
Perhaps once a month a different coloured bin could be wheeled into place for fridges, mattresses etc.
People are clearly trying to take the junk to a rubbish collection point.
Acheron
says...
7:57pm Sun 27 May 12
It also needs to be pointed out the restrictions that are put on what is taken to recycling. I've had my details taken in the past to prevent me returning having deposited 6 small bags.
Interestingly I have friends in Kent where a service is provided once a month for 'bulky and oversize' items to be collected. It gets rid of the fly tipping issue very easily. Of course that would then be providing a service to the people who live here, and I suspect that may not be top priority for some.
frida_3
says...
11:36pm Sun 27 May 12
mimseycal
says...
7:20am Mon 28 May 12
It is students, it is student lets and money grabbing landlords ... it is "a builder dump rubble and plaster board" ...
And yes, details are taken at the Hove dump. I have a car so I took some stuff for a friend who had no transport. Two months later, I needed to get rid of a few bits and I was prevented from 'depositing' the stuff in the dump.
Luckily I was aware of the Shoreham dump and took the stuff there as Wilson avenue was closed at the time for 'refurbishments' ... I kid you not.
I re-use, refashion, charity shop, Freecycle and just about anything else to extend the life of items and goods. But even then there comes a time when the ghost is knackered.
The powers that be need to address the issue of bulk and large item refuse and they need to address it in such a way that it takes into account the various circumstances that residents are in.
brightonsparkle
says...
1:20pm Tue 29 May 12
chilliman says...
11:21am Sun 27 May 12
Not all residents can get to the recycling centres (used to be called tips) if they don't have transport (which they can't afford to park) and the council charge to remove bulky items from your home. This means the "I don't care so long as it's not in my flat/house any longer thinking" kicks in and stuff just gets dumped. The areas mentioned seem likely to be mainly flat dwellers who won't have anywhere to put bulky rubbish.