Rubbish collection

As some of my regular readers will know, I am interested in the challenges concerning the rubbish collection in the West Midlands.

I have moved out of Whitmore Reans and into the city itself, where the rubbish collection situation is far worse than out in the suburbs.

Being challenged with this problem, I was pleased to find this press release at Birmingham Councils home page:

Litter crackdown is launched

Environmental Services
Reference Number 9210
Press contact:
Kris Kowalewski 0121 303 3621
Issue Date
19 October 2006

During the initial crackdown, each of the constituency’s four wards – Hodge Hill, Shard End, Washwood Heath and Bordesley Green – will be visited each week by a litter enforcement officer and a representative from the police. (YES. This is the only way of dealing with this problem!) Operating locations and times will be varied from week to week, to make the operation more effective. (Yeah, right...) And during their tours the team will visit known litter hotspots, (I could show them a few!) follow up information leads provided by residents and seek out individuals in the process of dropping or dumping rubbish. (Fact is, I have seen the kind of people who do dump rubbish on the street. You need an armed police officer to approach them) Those caught dropping litter incorrectly could face a range of punishments from a £75 on-the-spot fine (OOOOOH) through to prosecution in the courts. (OOOOOOOOOOH) Birmingham Community Safety Partnership has supplied £25,000 that to fund the scheme, part of an ongoing campaign by the city council to educate people to dispose of litter correctly. Cllr Neil Eustace, Chair of the Public Protection Committee, said: “We want to clear up the streets and give people an environment they can be proud to call their home. “Every bit of litter on the streets of Hodge Hill has been left by someone and we want to encourage a more responsible attitude amongst residents so they dispose of litter correctly. “The City Council will not hesitate to take strong enforcement action when people fail to do so – this exercise will undoubtedly contribute towards achieving a cleaner, greener Hodge Hill. ”Cllr Ansar Ali Khan, Hodge Hill Constituency Chair, added: “Cleaning up the streets right across the Hodge Hill Constituency is top priority for many residents and we are pleased to be partnering the police in introducing this litter enforcement exercise. “We hope it will send a powerful message that dropping litter is both unacceptable and will not be tolerated."

Whitmore Reans Gazette will be back with more..