Residents' bin collection fears dismissed by council

Residents of Folly Island will have a new refuse collection system imposed on them after council officers dismissed concerns raised in a public consultation.

The new system could see the introduction of at least three wheelie bins and a food caddy.

Folly Islanders have received a letter from the Shared Waste Services Team based in Buntingford, outlining the councils' response the matters raised during the consultation.

• Residents were concerned about the aesthetics of bins, however the Council considers it possible for the majority residents to store the bins in their gardens out of sight in a similar way to the vast majority of residents in East Hertfordshire and other districts with bin collections.
• Space to store bins, the council observed that non-wheeled bins were being stored in many front gardens as well as boxes. In addition, the rear gardens of properties of Folly Island are not inconsistent with other gardens across the district used to store bins.
• Residents were also concerned about footpath access, however the councils' proposals do not require or permit residents to store the wheeled bins on the highway footpaths. Footpath widths are consistent with other areas of East Hertfordshire and other districts with wheeled bin collections and crews will be asked to be mindful of not blocking access on collection days. Each street has slightly differing collection proposals with some streets having communal collection locations proposed. Access over the bridge for vehicles. There is no plan to change the vehicle at the current time, but the frequency of collection and future flexibility will allow for operational efficiencies.
• Maintenance of the alleyways in Folly island. This is not the responsibility of the council or highways authority, the Folly Island community may wish to address this collectively.
• Emissions. The reduced collection frequency will result in reduction in emissions.
• Residents were concerned about vermin, however wheeled bins area more suitable/resistant container than plastic sacks in areas prone to rat infestations.
• Bins being left out all day, some bins will remain out after collection until residents return home from work, this is similar to the situation across East Hertfordshire and other districts with bin collections. However, the council is aware that residents of Folly Island have expressed their concerns for keeping up the aesthetics of the area and therefore it is anticipated that residents will take pride in the area in a similar way to now and remove bins following collection.
• Lastly, residents expressed their concern for three-weekly collections. This is however a separate policy decision unrelated to the current collection proposals at Folly Island.

:: Shared Waste Team - East and North Herts Councils

New wheelie bins have now been delivered to residents, with a further two bins expected before the council moves from fortnightly to three-weekly collections in Spring next year.