A free community skips scheme is coming to Southwark to tackle fly-tipping in the borough.
The scheme, introduced by Southwark Council this week, will begin with a pilot in Surrey Quays in October, with residents able to dispose of furniture, some white goods and small electrical items for free.
The council have not said how often and at how many locations the community skips will go to when it is launched after the pilot.
The pilot will be used by the council’s waste team to test the service before rolling out a 12-month trial programme across the rest of the borough from next January.
(credit: Southwark Council)
The Community Skip Days will also feature “swap shops” and collections points for hard-to-recycle household items like electrics, batteries and textiles, after the council’s partnered with Veolia, the waste company that manages rubbish collection in London.
In addition, there will be opportunities for residents to learn more about recycling and waste disposal, a key issue in Southwark after a spate of waste material fires in recent weeks and months.
Council Leader James McAsh revealed the new scheme in an exclusive interview with the News last week, seeking to tackle fly-tipping and “create cleaner, greener streets”.
Commenting on the announcement, Cllr Eloise Waldon-Day, the Executive Member for Climate, said: “We want to make it easier for residents to do the right thing with their waste – and harder for it to end up on our streets.”
She added: “This is about more than just putting out a skip. We want to bring communities together around reuse, repair and recycling, helping people keep things in use for longer and making the greener choice the easier choice.
“That is good for residents’ pockets, good for our neighbourhoods and good for the planet – and part of our ambition to create an affordable, safe and green Southwark.”
(credit: Southwark Council)
Liberal Democrat Councillor Graham Neale added: “Liberal Democrats in Southwark have been campaigning for community skips for years – so I’m delighted that the Joint Administration has delivered yet another manifesto commitment.
“Fly-tipping is an issue that repeatedly comes up on the doorstep – and plagues our streets and estates.
“Along with more enforcement, it’s great to be able to make it easier for people to dispose of their bulky waste in a more responsible, more environmentally friendly way.”
Further details about the October event in Surrey Quays, and the scheme in general, are expected to be announced soon.