Consultation on waste service

This week the council hosted its first Waste Forum with local community groups to help inform and improve the waste and street scene service in the borough.

The forum on Tuesday 24th July was chaired by Councillor Jean Heywood, Environment Portfolio Holder, and included representatives from Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, Shenley Parish Council, Aldenham Parish Council, Bushey Forum, and Potters Bar in Focus.

The aim of the meeting was to gain local opinion about recycling and other waste issues so that improvements can be made to the service. For example, the forum was asked their opinion on alternative options to the black box such as another wheelie bin or clear plastic bags for those households that need more room for their plastic and tin recycling.

As well as helping to inform the council, the forum also provides an opportunity to improve communication with residents via more localised councils and groups. For instance, messages such as, food waste can be collected every week, and issues such as, the contamination of green/brown bins, can be more directly communicated with local communities.

The frequency of the forum is still to be decided but it is thought another meeting will be called within the next couple of months.

Councillor Jean Heywood, Environment Portfolio Holder and chair of the forum, said: "The aim of the forum is to engage to improve. We've been listening to residents and continue to do so and I'm confident that this forum will help us improve our waste service. Working with town and parish councils, and other local groups, will enable us to gather valuable local knowledge and share important information about recycling and waste minimisation for the benefit of residents and the environment."

Beryl Levy, Clerk of Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council, said: "I thought it was a useful meeting and am a firm supporter of recycling. I am sure that the town council will support anything that the borough council is doing to improve its recycling rates."

Margaret Ohren, Secretary of Potters Bar in Focus Waste and Recycling group, said: "It was very encouraging to see the forum set up to exchange ideas and views across the borough. We learned things about the local and national context of recycling which we can pass on to other residents and groups and in addition, we were able to help council staff understand the problems and needs of local people with regard to using facilities."

Vincent Turner, Secretary of Bushey Forum, said: "I found it extremely useful. It's very important that those making decisions are in touch with the views of the people that the decisions affect. I therefore welcome the creation of this forum which I think will be a positive contribution to the recycling and waste management efforts of the council."