Forum Topic

Recycling at Smuggler's Way facility

It's a shame that Wandsworth's recycling facility recently received such a bad rap. I've always been impressed by the council's commitment to recycling but I think they can go further still.I get frustrated at the sheer number of residents who pay no regard to disposing of recyclable material in the correct bins at the main dump. Whenever I take surplus rubbish there I see mixed items in all the wrong bins, some of it huge, and very much of which could be recycled or is still in good enough condition to donate to charity. I'd like to see on-the-spot fines for blatantly inconsiderate users of the main dump - the staff there don't appear to monitor this at all, although they're available for advice.

Roy Robart ● 2685d13 Comments

"I'd like to see on-the-spot fines for blatantly inconsiderate users of the main dump"It may be tempting, but I don't know under what law that could be done. I wouldn't like to be the staff who had to enforce it. Not without batons, anyway. How about generally encouraging people to put unwanted, possibly reuseable stuff out on the pavement in front of their houses, for other people to take? If not taken in a day or two, then WTS it. People do seem to do that off their own bat sometimes.I certainly could start to empty my shed and loft a bit that way.

David Ainsworth ● 2685d

That's called fly tipping

Andy Pike ● 2685d

I find the Smugglers Way dump quite intimidating and not always easy to find the bays you want, especially if you have a mixed load. The smaller dump near the Crematorium in Richmond is easier as, once you have parked, the men will unload for you and put everything in the right skip.I'm not sure if Wandsworth residents are supposed to use it, but have never had any trouble.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2685d

I think the smugglers way is very organised all the skips are labelled up high and if I am not sure which skip to use always ask and they take it for me, always found the staff there very helpful.

Maureen Ann Smith ● 2685d

I got such a strange look when I suggested to someone that they flatten the box  they were putting in the cardboard recycling.  Sometimes we can't get any more cardboard in and most boxes nowadays are designed to be dismantled.  The flatter the boxes - the more we can get in the container - and the fewer collections by truck and less road travel is needed.  It's  a win win situation.

Philippa Bond ● 2685d

I agree Maureen - I find Smugglers Way well organised and the staff helpful. It's just lazy dumpers who don't ask which containers are the appropriate ones to use.

Lucille Grant ● 2684d

I guess it is probably easier to ask at times when they are less busy?

Philippa Bond ● 2684d

Has anybody been on the tour of the MRF (Materials Recycling Facility aka Murf?  See front page article: http://www.putneysw15.com/default.asp?section=info&link=http://neighbournet.com/server/common/conwandsrecycling002.htmI did suggest to a friend that she put a local group together to go round the MRF.  You are lucky that your Council offers you the chance to understand better what happens to your recycling.  Since it isn't just machines doing the sorting there it is worth making the effort to get what you put out for recycling right!Here's another report on it:https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/smugglers-way-mrf-undercover-report/

Philippa Bond ● 2680d

Well worth going on a visit to the Smugglers Way recycling facility. Nearly all the waste material is sorted by the machines and it is fascinating to see how they work and the sheer volume of waste they deal with. We only saw a very small group of workers sorting waste by hand from a conveyer belt and understood that this was a quality check.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2680d

It is a real shame that we still seem to be stuck at the wrong end of the waste hierarchy.  It's like squeezing the wrong end of the toothbrush tube.More emphasis should be on Reuse and Repair. We are also becoming worryingly lacking in the mental ability to Repurpose.  We just expect someone else to have invented something we can buy off the shelf instead of creating something for ourselves.

Philippa Bond ● 2678d

Philippa, feel free don't let anybody stop you, you make what you want. Hope it doesn't blow the house up.

Barbara Stevens ● 2678d

Who said anything about high-tech?  Learning to re-purpose containers eg using a large flowerpot to keep shoes in is apparently now too taxing for people to do on their own - they need to buy something labelled as a shoe store.  There's a distinct lack of initiative around.  Choosing loose natural fabric clothes that keep us cool in hot weather rather than skin tight stretchy synthetic fashion might allow some inspiration!

Philippa Bond ● 2672d

Philippa what on earth has this got to do with the dump. Or do the men at the dump wear tight trousers, making it impossible for them to bend down properly to help people. Why would you put shoe's in a flower pot you will end up with snails, spiders and every creepy crawly on the planet.

Barbara Stevens ● 2672d