Overuse and fly tipping at the Civic Amenity Site at the Sutherland Grange Nature Reserve is becoming increasingly problematic and an eyesore. RBWM officers and local councillors are to trial a temporary suspension in the coming months.

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Problems caused by overuse and fly tipping at Sutherland Grange Civic Amenity Site

Since it’s relocation from the more practical Tinkers Lane depot, the Sutherland Grange Civic Amenity site has grown in “popularity” and increasingly is overused and also abused by tippers which results in an unsightly mess, pollution of the nature reserve and the River Thames ecosystem and food chain with plastics, exposing residents and animals to dangerous materials and, fly tipping of oversize goods all of which unnecessarily costs the Borough and so residents thousands of pounds in clean up and waste disposal costs.

• The facility comprises Blue Bins (RBWM control) and Textile Bins (Third Party) in the East End of the Car Park of the Sutherland Grange Nature Reserve.
• Inappropriately dumped items include fridges, freezers, sofas, garden furniture, polymer granules, circular saw blades, car parts, garden furniture including slides and swings, electrical goods, broken bean bags, toilets, cupboards etc..
• This is costing us £2,000 in extra collection costs and up to £10,000 for extra waste disposal costs though, some of this will still be our responsibility if disposed off via Stafferton Way.

 

The Alternative Services Available to residents

The frustrating thing is that all of these items can be correctly and safely disposed of today at the Stafferton Way Civic Amenity Site (free) and using RBWM collection of large items website page (at minimal cost). 

Also most of the waste streams (plastics, domestic waste, textiles) are currently collected from residents in the weekly bin collection and, small electrical appliances will be collected from the kerbside with the bin collections from October 2019.

In other words, there is absolutely no reason for the poor behavior which is costing us more than £10,000 pounds, is polluting the nearby nature reserve and the River Thames ecosystem and, is creating an unsightly mess in a highly visible area of Windsor.

Link to RBWM collection of large items website page https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200175/recycling_and_rubbish/45/collection_of_large_items

Experiences from elsewhere in the Borough

Where such overused and abused facilities have been removed at other sites around the Borough that the problem, disappears after a few weeks so, your team would support such a proposal to the Lead Members for Environment and Communities.

 

The proposed solution

Local Councillors have discussed the persistent situation with residents and Cllr Davey has proposed that the site be temporarily removed temporarily to allow and the facility reviewed by Council and residents.

 

Trial solution economics

The following costs are associated with the trial, and final implementation

• Extra £300 to decommission the site
• Extra £300 to recommission the site should that be desired
• Reduction in extra fly tipping waste collection £2,000 per anum
• Reduction in waste disposal costs of up to £10,000 per anum if all waste then becomes chargeable commercial waste or is disposed of outside RBWM
• Opportunity gain to waste contractors who will have less to do on the base contract at this facility