Mill Hill Residents Urge Council to Pause Bin Collection Changes

Residents in Mill Hill are calling on Barnet Council to halt plans that could alter bin collection frequency, following a survey that revealed widespread dissatisfaction with current services and a strong desire for resident involvement in decision-making. The Mill Hill Residents’ Association (MHRA) conducted a survey in September, receiving responses from 1,387 local people, its largest ever response.

The findings indicate that 89% of surveyed residents reported their bins are already mostly full or overflowing by the end of the weekly collection cycle. Only 3% believed changing to fortnightly collections would have no significant impact. Furthermore, 94% of respondents explicitly stated they want the council to pause any proposed changes until residents have a clear understanding of the proposals and an opportunity to challenge them.

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Resident Concerns and Alternative Proposals

Frank Orman, chair of the MHRA, highlighted that the survey responses revealed practical difficulties faced by households, including families with large amounts of waste, blocks of flats with shared bins, and individuals managing medical waste. Some residents reported issues with maggots due to current bin fullness, even with weekly collections. A significant number of comments also linked rising council tax with perceived decreases in service levels.

The association has put forward alternative suggestions for Barnet Council to consider. These include collecting waste every ten days instead of fourteen, adjusting collection frequency based on seasons (e.g., weekly in summer, fortnightly in winter), implementing separate schedules for different bin types like recycling, and providing options for larger or additional bins for households with specific needs.

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Mr Orman stated that these ideas come from residents who use the service weekly and deserve thorough evaluation. He emphasised that the current stage, where the Barnet Council cabinet has requested officers appraise future waste collection options, is the appropriate time for resident input to be integrated into the decision-making process.

The MHRA has consistently advocated for earlier resident involvement in local issues, arguing that consultation occurring after decisions are largely made feels insufficient and leads to frustration. The association believes that treating residents as partners from the outset would lead to better-informed decisions and more effective solutions.

The council has been asked to incorporate the residents' ideas into the options appraisal for waste collection. The MHRA plans to continue gathering resident feedback and reporting it to the council.

Next Steps

Barnet Council officers are currently appraising options for future waste collection frequencies. The Mill Hill Residents’ Association has formally requested that resident-proposed ideas and concerns be included in this appraisal process. Residents are encouraged to engage with the MHRA for further information and to voice their views.