Tower Hamlets enforcement teams ‘reallocated’ during waste strikes

The council announced yesterday (14 September) that its frontline waste service workers and street cleansers will be going on strike from 18 September to 1 October as part of a national pay dispute taken by Unite (see letsrecycle.com story).

Tower Hamlets explained that it is “prohibited” from bringing in additional resources during this time, but it “will be reallocating staff who are not participating in the strike to cover missed collections, including Tower Hamlets enforcement officers.”

Measures

To mitigate the impact of the action, the council has suspended bulky waste collections to allow staff to focus on residual waste rounds, with residents encouraged to use the HWRC in the area.

Tower Hamlets has also encouraged residents to reduce waste volumes and recycle more during the period.

Apologise

Lutfur Rahman, the executive mayor of Tower Hamlets, said: “We value our frontline staff and know how hard they work.

“This strike is a national pay dispute and not limited to local issues. It is in fact a response to the very real cost-of-living crisis felt by families up and down the country.  Naturally we are disappointed by the strike as keeping Tower Hamlets’ streets clean and litter free is our priority. We apologise to our residents and businesses and want to assure them we are doing our best to maintain services throughout.”

Minimise 

Tower Hamlets council have offered three key suggestions to the general public to help minimise disruptions:

1. Reduce Waste Generation: Residents and businesses are encouraged to generate less waste by considering alternatives to single-use items, practicing mindful shopping, and choosing products with minimal packaging.
2. Recycle Responsibly: Recycling remains a crucial component of waste reduction. The council advises residents to continue separating recyclables from regular waste and to ensure that recyclables are clean and free of non-recyclable materials.
3. Spread the Word: The council encourages community members to promote these waste reduction and recycling efforts among neighbours and friends, emphasising that collective participation will contribute to a cleaner and more environmentally friendly community.

Tower Hamlets council states it remains committed to finding a resolution to the strike issue while minimising disruptions to essential services.