Dear LPG,

I have just received my brand new kitchen caddy and outside food bin in preparation for the changes to Lewisham Council’s bin collections. 

When, in 2015, I read about it and was asked, I was one of the 67% who thought it would be a good idea to have the food waste separate for all the reasons that the council offered.  It is namely that that sort of food attracts foxes and other vermin and I took note of the idea about their using it for compost. But I also think that we will end up with a garden full of bins if the council give us any more.

There is one thing that I take issue with.  Though the website gives full instructions about what we need to do, it implies that the newly introduced food waste collection system will be a ‘free’ service.  Unless I am mistaken Lewisham Council are paying for this out of the council tax we are bound to pay to them. Aren’t they?   

JA, Lewisham.

LPG can offer a little information here.

Most of Lewisham are about to experience the new refuse collection scheme.   The council are rescheduling black bin collections so that they occur fortnightly for many residents, while introducing a new weekly food waste bin service.

According to the council the service, which will be starting during the first week of October 2017, will save them £500,000 a year, although some streets in the borough will not be affected and residents who live in blocks of flats or who use communal bins will keep their existing service too.  

There is a list of the streets which will experience no change on the council website.  The new food waste bins arrive with full instructions inside but if you want to know your new collection weekday, or indeed, if you will be part of the new scheme, you can do this by accessing their website. (►►►)