Shepway's Rubbish Collection from Flats: Put A Lid On It

Strong winds in Sandgate last night on the eve of a recycling collection has shown up the boxes issued to many as "not fit for purpose". Litter and waste was blown from boxes in Sandgate High Street, leaving the area looking devastated and in need of a major clear-up.

Sandgate Councillor Tim Prater reported the litter to Shepway Council via Twitter early on Wednesday morning, but slammed the collection boxes as causing the problem.

Tim says:

"Shepway Council give individual flats and houses without bin space boxes without lids for recycling. As collection occurs early in the morning, many people reasonably put out their waste the night before, but then when the wind blows, the contents of the boxes and bags get scattered. The area then looks awful, and there must be a huge cost to clear up - many residents have taken on picking up waste themselves, but they are being let down by the system.

"Boxes without lids are clearly not fit for purpose when the wind blows, and are also useless in an area with a lot of seagulls. Shepway Council to urgently review its system and provide lidded boxes for recycling - given the time it takes to pick up waste that has blown away it would probably even save money in the long term.

"We shouldn't have to live with rubbish strewn streets. That's what we've got today because Shepway's Rubbish system is, for those without wheely bins, just that - rubbish."