Wheelie bins littering Lambeth pavements

Do others else regard wheelie bins scattered around on pavements a problem? Or maybe this is just an issue for wheelchair users?

The pavements of Lambeth become impassable on days of refuse-collection. On these days pavements become a slalom course for wheelchair users, of which I'm one. Indeed, some pathways become totally unusable forcing me onto the road, thus endangering my safety.

As refuse is collected on different days, usually, Mondays to Fridays, one pavement or another is littered with bins either empty or waiting to be emptied. So for most of the week, I am confronted with these plastic barriers forcing me off safe paths onto roads inhabited by fast-moving traffic.

At the moment householders are responsible for leaving out their own refuse containers. This is usually on the pavement outside their properties. Therefore, wheelie bins, and their like, may be blocking the pavement from early morning, on the way out to work, and late evening, on return from work. And of course, people’s coming, and goings are staggered which means the bins are blocking pavements for most of the day. 

Lambeth Council must insist that refuse-collectors are responsible for taking the refuse containers from gardens or designated areas, emptying the containers and replacing the containers in their proper spaces. The pavement is not a proper space in which to leave refuse containers.

In the past I’ve heard the usual excuse from the Council maintaining that the refuse collection companies are not responsible for the position of containers, that is an issue for individual householders. They claim it’s a contractual issue.

Well, let’s explain to Lambeth that contracts are not one-sided agreements. It takes at least two parties to form a contract. And I would strenuously argue that the collection and disposal of rubbish should not impinge upon or endanger the lives of people going about their lawful business.

Therefore, let’s take the onus off householders, many of whom can’t be expected to take their refuse containers back in immediately following collection, as things like work, etc. get in the way. Instead, the Council needs to either reinforce current contracts that state that collectors must retrieve and replace bins from front gardens, etc. Or if no such clause exists then amend the contract accordingly.