Action Line: Lack of garbage pickup

  • Published
  • By Col. Jay B. Silveria
  • 48th Fighter Wing commander
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  
COMPLAINT:

Every Tuesday on my way home for lunch I see an abundance of bags of trash laying in the yards (I live on Bruntingthorpe, way in the back so I see many bags). I figured what was happening, but wasn't sure until this week.

I had to go home to get something, and happened to witness the garbage pickup personnel open a trash can, grab the trash from the bin, and toss it into the yard.

Now I understand that you can't have four bags of trash just stacked on the bin with the lid completely open to the back, but on some of these bins the lid is maybe an inch open.
Regardless, what makes me furious is the energy required to open the bin, grab the trash, and then toss it into the yard, is equal to just throwing it into the garbage truck.

For two days after any pick-up day (trash or recyclables), the Liberty Village streets are covered in trash. What does the base pay the garbage pickup personnel to do? I am no genius, but I am sure it is to pick up garbage. It is obviously just a personal attack against the occupants by just throwing it into the yards. Especially when they could just as easily throw it into the truck.

The trash contract needs re-evaluated.

RESPONSE:

Thank you for your question and input.

Trash pickup in family housing is executed by the local district council - the same as it is managed off base.

For Liberty Village, our local council is Forest Heath District Council (FHDC) and they provide free trash removal for the US Visiting Forces.

Our Civil Engineers spoke to the Director of Operations from Environmental Services of the FHDC about your complaint. He apologized for any lack of performance from his crews and stated that overfilled bills are a safety hazard to their crews. When trash bins are lifted by the truck, they rise above the workers' heads leaving them vulnerable to falling debris. This hazard is reduced if the bins are fully closed.

Household waste tips are furnished on their website and one critical tip is not to overfill your bin or make it too heavy. He emphasized that excess household waste can be taken to your local Household Waste and Recycling Center, such as the one on A1065 at Five Ways Roundabout, or subject to prior agreement, may be placed in your neighbor's bin. If a bin is overfilled or there is trash not inside the bin, the workers are not required to attempt to empty the bins.

Sometimes the crews remove excess bags. If you see crews throwing bags about, please contact the Housing Office with specific information and they will pass that information on to FHDC. Leaving trash bags on the ground is not only a health hazard, but it can attract vermin.

I ask all residents to do their part by picking up trash and litter; not only around your homes but in community areas, play areas, streets and sidewalks. By practicing the "My Base-My Home Concept" we will all live in a cleaner community in which we are all proud to live. We thank you very much for your support and cooperation.