Sutton's Spring Clean skips being used as dump for trade waste, say residents

The 15 skips which were part of Ashfield District Council's 'BIG Ashfield Spring Clean' were removed early from the streets on the morning of Wednesday, May 23, instead of Friday, May 25.

The skips had been emptied five times while out but residents have said online that 'trade waste' was being dumped into the skips.

The leader of the council Councillor Jason Zadrozny, said the skips were moved early as the skips were only meant to be emptied once.

The Ashfield Independents leader also said the maximum amount of overtime for the workers clearing the rubbish was used for this stage of the clean before the next two stages, targeting Kirkby, Hucknall and villages.

On Monday, May 21, the scheme was launched for the first time.

Coun Zadrozny said: "We were bound to have some teething problems."

Councillor Cathy Mason, who represents the Carsic area at the council and is part of the Labour party which lead the council until a vote of no confidence last month said it was a "good idea" but "putting rubbish in a bin isn't a success."

Coun Mason who said she was sweeping up grass cuttings which overflowed in the skip: "It was a good idea, recycling is always a good idea but there were problems by midday of the launch on Monday.

"Putting rubbish in a bin isn't a success, but having a man monitoring the skips seeing who and what goes in is the only one who can say if it is a success."

The money for the skips was made available as the number of cabinet members at the council when Coun Zadrozny took over by one saving £9,000.

She said: "Resident should have been asked if they wanted this £9000 service.

"There was paint in there things and other items you can't have in there.

"No one's details were checked when they were disposing of waste."

Coun Zadrozny has said the council has noticed 'less flytipping' already, he said: "It was the biggest ever collection since the council was created. It was an enormous amount of rubbish.

"People were walking stuff to the skips who had no other from transport, these are the things that end up on our streets, from people with no transport with no way of moving it.

"We are learning to be much better next year, when we hope to hold the campaign again.

"In Kirkby for the next stage, we will be dropping off the skips in the morning, taking them away overnight and staying with it during the day."

Since the skips were removed one resident Brian Slaney, writing on the council's Facebook page said: "Spring Clean? More like Spring Dump."

Bridgett Dundon also wrote: "I think it was good and so many people got to use the skips, the workmen were helpful too. Never mind that you cannot please everyone."

Sammy Deakin wrote on the page: "It was a good idea, shame a lot of people used and abused it."

Coun Zadrozny said: "We were at the skips so often I don't think there was a 'tradesman' problem. Regular tradesmen pay yearly to use the tips.

"People who may have used the skips for trade waste might be the same people who dump in the country lanes. I would rather they dump it in the skips as it is in one place making it cheaper to collect for the council."

He also said how tradesmen who turned up at the skips while council workers were there were advised how to tip "responsibly."