Dear LPG

Last October when Lewisham residents were all informed of the new bin collection plans that the council had for them, I found myself having to phone up to receive my new food bin in time; it appears that the building that I live in was missed out.   My grey bin has disappeared from my front garden for the second time since then and I have to say that I am beginning to wonder just what I am doing wrong.  I live in a house where there are three separate apartments and having originally learned of the changes to bin collections last year I did worry about the halving of the service’s frequency.

I find that the increasing directives suggesting that they can only be reordered online a little unfair on those who don’t use computers, because it seems to me that it is mostly pensioners that fall into that category.  The last time that I found mine missing I did phone the council’s environmental department and was able to order one over the phone but no one really tells you that.  I understand that it is more convenient for the council to have computers do all the work, but the non-IT savvy amongst us should be made more aware that there is an alternative option.  It is a little unfair of the council to assume that every older person who does not use the internet knows someone they can keep bothering to do these things for them.

I have to admit to getting a little mixed up with which week is on and which is off when it comes down to fortnightly bin collections.  To make things worse, on what I call the ‘off week’ recently, I found the bin workers moving the black bins to in front of our houses in the way that they do on a collection day which also confused me somewhat, although that proved to be an error on their part.  It has been particularly warm recently and in order to deter foxes from trying to interfere with certain types of rubbish I sometimes store it elsewhere until collection day.  In consequence it occurred to me that it would be good to be able to confirm just which day they are coming. You can do that on line or by telephone as well.

I suppose that the only other real annoyance is that the council gave us a couple of bags to use with the grey food bins initially, but now we are expected to buy them ourselves.  While I accept that they are not that expensive to me, expense is relative, and it appears that the best bags for the job are always out of stock. No doubt there is now a high demand for them in the borough.

Environmental services can be reached through the main Lewisham council telephone number but once I got through they informed me that you can also try 0208 314 7171

JT, Catford.

If you can see the internet LPG has found the webpage where you can order a replacement bin and find out when your next fortnightly black bin collection will occur.

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