What’s behind Wandsworth’s terrible waste management and how can we actually fix it?

It’s something we’ve all seen, and many of us have complained about: the terrible state of waste collection in Putney.

Bin men turn up at different times; sometimes not at all. Unsightly piles of garbage that gather on the pavement every week. Rotting food everywhere on bin day thanks to foxes. Why is Wandsworth so bad at something that everyone else in the world appears to have figured out?

Following a recent council meeting where, yet again, councillors promised to fix things, we decided to dig a little deeper.

So see below for the reasoned explanations for why it’s so hard to get waste management right – according to the council – but if you want our plain-speaking view, scroll to the bottom.

Wandsworth’s food waste collection program has not been a success for a number of reasons including inconsistent services, logistical difficulties, and gaps in public engagement. While the borough has expanded food waste recycling efforts, several underlying issues have made effective waste management a persistent challenge.

Why Is Waste Management Falling Short?

Despite significant investment in food waste collection and recycling initiatives, multiple factors are limiting their effectiveness:

1. Public Engagement and Compliance Issues
   • Many residents are uncertain about the correct way to separate waste which has led to low participation rates, especially in flats.
   • Lack of clear guidance for landlords and tenants has resulted in confusion over waste disposal responsibilities.
   • There needs to be better outreach and education efforts.
2. Infrastructure Limitations
   • Many older buildings and flats above shops lack proper waste storage facilities, forcing residents to leave waste on pavements where it is frequently torn open by foxes.
   • The borough has around 10,000 flats above shops that lack designated bin areas, creating ongoing sanitation and littering problems.
   • While the council has committed to surveying affected properties and expanding communal waste storage, critics argue that infrastructure improvements should have preceded the mandatory food waste collection policy.
3. Waste Contamination and Recycling Efficiency
   • Incorrect disposal of food waste in dry recycling bins has led to entire batches being rejected from processing facilities, reducing overall efficiency.
   • Common contaminants include plastic bags, non-compostable food containers, and liquid waste, which make proper recycling more difficult.
   • The council is considering stricter enforcement and clearer public messaging to reduce contamination.
4. Service Implementation Delays and Inconsistencies
   • Despite the borough-wide food waste collection rollout in June 2024, some areas still do not receive regular collection services.
   • Reports from residents highlight missed collections, bin shortages, and inconsistent pickup schedules, causing frustration and leading to waste buildup.
   • Schools and businesses are also experiencing delays in transitioning to the new system. Non-domestic properties must separate recyclable waste from general waste by March 31, 2025, but some organisations are struggling with implementation.
5. Financial Barriers for Schools and Community Groups
   • Independent schools and community organizations must pay for food waste collection services, unlike directly managed schools that receive it for free.
   • Some councillors have raised concerns about the financial burden placed on small institutions, arguing that waste management should not be a luxury service.
   • The council has yet to provide specific funding support for affected groups, leaving them searching for cost-effective solutions.

A Path Forward

Wandsworth Council has pledged to address infrastructure weaknesses, improve public education efforts, and refine collection schedules to make waste management more effective. The Cleaner Borough Plan (Phase Two) includes plans to expand communal bins and introduce “waste ambassadors” to support compliance and reduce contamination.

However, concerns remain that the pace of action is too slow, and some residents and businesses believe the borough must accelerate infrastructure improvements and enhance service reliability before the system can function efficiently.

As Wandsworth continues working toward higher recycling rates and reduced landfill waste, tackling these systemic challenges will be essential for long-term success. Residents are encouraged to engage with local waste management initiatives, report service issues, and participate in consultation efforts to help shape future improvements.

---

The Putney.news view

We’ve outlined the council’s view of why waste management is such a mess and difficult to fix. Now here’s our view:

This is not rocket science.

Every local authority across the world has to deal with waste management and many of them – particularly in Australia, Germany and parts of the United States – do it a hell of a lot better than we do.

The truth is that when Wandsworth Council was run by the Conservatives, they decided to get out of the commercial waste collection market in order to save money. The result was savings but a worse service that has degraded further over time.

We don’t have modern bins – or the rubbish trucks to deal with them. We rely on old-fashioned bin bags and men hurling them into the back of a lorry.

We don’t have adequately paid waste services. So corners are cut, low-wage workers with little or no incentive to do a good job are hired, a weak customer service layer can’t insist on improvements, and we all make do with a terrible service because all the real solutions require spending more money.

And that means raising council tax – something that the Conservatives have made a huge cultural issue in Putney (thank you Mrs Thatcher), and which the new Labour-run administration is sticking firmly with in the hope of retaining control of the council – even when that means piling on the debt and digging into reserves.

And so we have the council and councillors outlining things like “public engagement” and “lack of compliance by locals.”

The honest answer

In straight terms, here’s the real problem: we don’t put enough money into it.

If you want to see what could happen if Wandsworth politicians were to get over their “lowest council tax in Britain” fixation, then you only need to stick your head over the fence to Richmond and Twickenham where waste management has been more fully funded and complaints are a tiny fraction of what Wandsworth receives.

You might be surprised to know that Richmond Council and Wandsworth Council are actually run by the same people. Staff and back-office functions were merged back in October 2016 to save on costs – and it is estimated to save £10m a year.

So with the same people running things, the only difference between good waste management and terrible waste management is: our councillors and the decisions they choose to make.