Homes for Islington is introducing a borough-wide bulk rapid response refuse collection service for council estates after a successful pilot resulted in the collection of 395 tonnes of household items, including 750 refrigerators.<br><br>With this service, estate residents or caretakers report the presence of dumped bulk refuse and within 24 hours a team arrives to collect the items and dispose of them efficiently. The items are assessed for their suitability for recycling or renewal. <br><br>Estate cleanliness benefits further as the collection service frees up caretaking staff’s time which has been spent collecting and storing the bulk items for other duties.<br><br>With the support of council residents, the pilot, begun last August and funded by the Islington Strategic Partnership's Housing & Environment theme groups (through Neighbourhood Renewal Funding), has nearly doubled its target to collect 200 tonnes of refuse. Homes for Islington is providing additional funding to expand the service across the borough beginning this August.<br><br>Ann Lucas, Homes for Islington Board Chair said: “Homes for Islington is working closely with council estate residents to help improve the quality of life on estates. By providing clean, safe spaces we aim to discourage further dumping and anti-social behaviour. This service also contributes to our aim to increase the proportion of waste that is recycled. <br><br>“The dumping of bulky goods on estates is a health and safety hazard, which also causes damage to items that could be reused, while unnecessarily increasing landfill.“<br><br>Jyoti Vaja said: "We are committed to improving our estates and are investing more than ever before in council housing. Dumped rubbish is unsightly, dangerous and can attract pests. This scheme will ensure that it is removed quickly and dealt with in an environmentally friendly way. <br><br>"We want to make Islington a better place to live for all our residents and schemes like this that improve the local environment make a real difference"<br><br>ENDS<br><br>Notes to editors:<br><br>1. Media contact Scott Swinton 020 7527 4370, -scott.swinton@homesforislington.org.uk<br><br>2. The rapid response bulk refuse collection pilot has been in operation on council estates in the Upper Street and Boleyn Road areas since August 2004.
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009