EBC. Once just shorthand for Elmbridge Borough Council, it is now
the new acronym for Elmbridge Bin Collections – the council’s latest initiative to make us leaner and greener.

It is hard to argue with the logic behind the move. Council leaflets
inform us that in recent years the residents of Elmbridge have dramatically reduced the amount of rubbish sent to landfill by increasing recycling and composting rates to around 38%, but that there is more work to be done and that the introduction of a new food waste scheme would further increase this figure to around 50%. But what does this actually mean for residents in practical terms?

The two biggest changes are:
•A new weekly collection of food
waste
•And fortnightly – instead of weekly –
refuse collections

The scheme has only been running since 5 October and in many ways it is too early to tell how successful it will be long term, but there certainly seem to be a few teething problems. One resident complains: “How am I to store all those bins and bring them
through from my tiny terraced house? We don’t all live in big detached houses with ample discreet storage space!”
“My tiny back garden looks like a bin yard now,” agrees another.

But the bins are not only designed for outside storage. The council has supplied a small grey plastic container referred to as a ‘kitchen caddy’. Not the most aesthetically pleasing object, one busy mum of two complains: “I hate the idea of having the scraps bin
on show and find it difficult to fit under the sink.” Another, however, is really pleased with the caddy and doesn’t mind storing it next to her taps, making the point that the main kitchen bin is actually ‘less smelly’ now because there is no food in it.

The ‘outside food bin’ is worrying for some. One resident we spoke to doesn’t like the idea of food hanging around in this way because it may attract local wildlife. “I dread to think how some of those food bins will smell in the warmer weather and as for the foxes, flies and maggots it will encourage, - no thanks.” The council is adamant that the ‘lockable lid’ on the outside food bin will stop this happening. And it must also be noted here that, although residents are urged to take part, the food waste service is not compulsory.

The fortnightly refuse collections, on the other hand, are mandatory and the council insist it is no longer necessary for them to carry out
weekly collections if food waste is dealt with separately. With this in
mind… do residents really have the option NOT to use the food waste
bins? Perhaps, like most things, there is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Perhaps the council could endeavour to involve local supermarkets a little more in the planning stages. After all, as one resident points out: “The problem needs to be tackled at the source, i.e. the manufacturers. The supermarkets need to address the mountains of needless packaging that we have to dispose of.” Could
Waitrose in Esher High Street house a number of recycling bins for the residents of Esher to use whenever they wish? This may help those living in houses who want to join the recycling effort but where outside storage is a genuine problem.

If you are experiencing difficulties with the new EBC initiative, the
council would like to hear from you. You can call them on 01372 474775, email them on: envcare@elmbridge.gov.uk, or go to
the website for further information about any aspect of the service:
www.elmbridge.gov.uk/bins.

N.B. Although the council was invited to respond to the points made in this article and promised a statement, at the time of printing (some two weeks after the commitment), nothing has
been received.