Household waste is set to be collected once a fortnight with wheelie bins set to be rolled out across Merton, in proposals described as “utter madness” by a local campaigner.

However, cabinet member for environmental cleanliness and parking, Councillor Ross Garrod, said he is convinced it will lead to cleaner streets.

A Sustainable Communities scrutiny panel voted on Thursday, June 9, to support the recommendation for Veolia to take over waste collection in and street cleaning services in the borough as part of the South London Waste Partnership.

May 28: Two companies likely to provide waste collection and maintenance in Croydon, Sutton, Kingston and Merton

This would mean that, if Veolia win the contract, from October 2018 wheelie bins would be brought in across Merton.

Every home would have a bin for non-recyclable household waste and a bin for paper and card, as well as a box for plastics, glass and cans and a food waste caddy.

Under the new plans, household waste would only be collected once a fortnight. Food waste would continue to be collected weekly, while the two recycling collections would be collecting on alternate weeks.

Local campaigner and founder of Merton Matters, Dan Goode, has argued that wheelie bins will not solve the “intrinsic littering culture” in Merton.

November 4: Cleaning up their act: Mucky Merton campaign gets attention of Siobhain McDonagh MP

He said: “We have a service now, which they are contracting out, which is not coping. My concern, and a lot of people’s concern, is that the council is aiming for a service that’s the same as the one they are getting now.

“For a borough that’s already struggling with waste, having fewer collections is just madness. There’s a fundamental issue with cleanliness in Merton.

Wimbledon Times:

Photo: Merton Matters

“Bins are already overflowing in the streets and in the parks, and with dog poo added into them now as well. To add to that fortnightly bin collection is just utter madness.”

Merton Conservatives’ spokesman for transport, parking and cleaner streets, Councillor Daniel Holden, has also spoken against the plans.

He said: “Whatever spin they try to put on it, Labour are ending the weekly bin collection, breaking their own manifesto commitment to protect this service.

“Merton residents will now have to put their household rubbish in four different containers, clogging up kitchens, front gardens and street fronts.

“Weekly bin collections are being ended without a proper assessment of the impact it will have on residents; especially the elderly, disabled and those living in smaller homes and flats. There is also a worrying lack of clarity on the financial savings this proposal will deliver.”

However, Cllr Garrod said: “Residents want cleaner streets and I firmly believe wheelie bins will do this as they will stop the problem of foxes ripping open black sacks.

“We are a business like council so we’ve found an affordable way to bring in wheelie bins that means we will still collect food waste and recycling every week.

“I am convinced the streets will be cleaner, more people will recycle and we’ll also save £2 million pounds.

“The Tories obviously don’t care about making our streets cleaner and they have a cheek talking about money when it’s their government that is slashing council budgets.”

What do you think? Email letters@wimbledonguardian.co.uk and let us know