Letter: I Share the Frustration Over Waste Collection Calendars

Published on: 29 Nov, 2024
Updated on: 29 Nov, 2024

From George Potter

Lib Dem lead member for Climate Change & Environment at GBC

In response to: Is the Cost of a Waste Collection Leaflet Really Too Much?

I completely share Roshan Bailey’s frustration that the annual bin collection calendars are not being delivered this year. However, it is incorrect to attribute this to a decision by Guildford Borough Council.

The calendars were funded, produced and distributed by the Surrey Environment Partnership (SEP) which exists to manage the responsibility of Surrey County Council (SCC), as the waste disposal authority, in concert with the waste collection authorities (the boroughs and districts).

However, this year the SEP was asked to cut £100,000 from its budget by Surrey County Council in order to reduce the size of financial contributions Surrey needed to make to the SEP, a result of the well-documented financial pressures SCC is facing.

One of the SEP services stopped as a result of this budget cut was the production and distribution of the waste calendars, which have now been cancelled across the county.

As the portfolio holder responsible for refuse at GBC, I did make the argument at the time that I felt that a gradual phasing out of the calendars would be better than stopping them without warning, but my point of view did not carry the day. We have also recently been told SCC wish to cut a further £200,000 from the SEP budget, meaning it is unlikely that the calendars will be coming back anytime soon.

Whilst we have explored alternative options for the calendars GBC, unfortunately, does not have the staff or budget to take on this SEP responsibility.

A printable PDF of a collection calendar will be made available on the GBC website for download shortly (we are currently waiting for SEP to approve the final version), and limited numbers of physical copies will be made available for collection from the GBC offices at Millmead and from The Hive in Park Barn in the new year. And residents can always look up their bin collection dates online here: www.guildford.gov.uk/Christmasbincollectiontimes.