Handbook - Refuse & Litter

SURBITON COURT FLATS 1-69 HANDBOOK

Refuse & Litter

Refuse

All household refuse must be securely bagged and placed into the bins in the bin compounds adjacent to Garages 11 and 18.

Refuse, e.g. pieces of wood or metal, waste bags or litter, must not be left outside the bins or in any communal areas such as hallways, staircases, balconies or gardens.

To avoid wasting the space available to all users, cardboard boxes must be flattened before being placed in the bins. Large boxes should be cut into smaller pieces.

The bins must not be overfilled: if the first bins are full you will invariably find space in the farthest bins.

All rubble, waste and debris from Alterations & Renovations to Flats must be appropriately disposed of and not placed in the bins or bin compounds.

Large items such as furniture, mattresses, old electrical/electronic equipment, wooden planks and shelves, etc. must not be left in the bin compounds as the Council waste disposal operatives will not take them away. Residents who attempt to dispose of their bulky items in the bin compounds will be identified and billed for the cost of having such items removed.

Christmas trees must be taken and left on a clear stretch of pavement in St Andrews Square, where they do not constitute an obstruction. Further information is available via this link.

Recycling

The nearest facility for recycling glass, paper and cardboard in Surbiton used to be in the car park at Waitrose. As of May, 2023 the Council decided to remove the facility. There are still some small recycling bins for bottles and paper next to the vehicular entrance to the station forecourt. If you have a lot to recycle, however, the best option is to take it to the Reuse and Recycling Centre (see below).

General information about waste collection and recycling in Kingston and Surbiton is available at www.kingston.gov.uk/bins-recycling-rubbish.

Kingston Council provides a Household Reuse and Recycling Centre for residents of the borough. Further information is available at www.kingston.gov.uk/recyclingcentre.

NB HRRC is now operating a booking system for residents of Kingston and Surbiton wishing to use the Centre. Click the "Book your visit" button on the recycling centre web page above to start the process.

Discussion of Recycling at Surbiton Court

The Board has engaged extensively with Kingston Council with regard to recycling. One of the options which has been considered was to convert one of the existing landfill compounds into a recycling area. The Council, however, deemed that the number of remaining landfill bins would not be adequate for all 68 flats. This would mean additional collections, the cost of which would have to be borne by all residents. In 2013, with the help of one of the local councillors, Kingston Council drafted a new proposal for recycling at Surbiton Court. It would have required the withdrawal of 4 of the 8 landfill bins in the two existing bin areas and replacing them with 4 bins for recycling metal, plastic, paper and cardboard, respectively. The proposal was put to a vote by Members at the Annual General Meeting where it was turned down.

The main reason for rejection was that the scheme would require active and frequent monitoring to avoid the bins becoming overfull and cross-contaminated. There were not enough volunteers to police the bins to ensure that they were being used properly, to move waste from incorrect bins into the correct ones, and to identify and approach residents who were not recycling appropriately and responsibly.

Since then recycling has been discussed by Members at AGMs and by directors at Board meetings. The Council introduced a slightly more streamlined system in 2019, and it was again discussed at the AGM held on 27 February 2020. It was, however, felt by the majority of Members that the present system would still not be suitable for Surbiton Court.

Issues discussed and concerns expressed included:

St Andrew’s Square is one of the few remaining Victorian squares in SW London (circa 1870) and the only example of Victorian square architecture in the borough. It provides a daily example of residents failing to recycle in a responsible manner: items incorrectly sorted, overfilled bins, food and other detritus spilling onto pavements, creating an insanitary eyesore and pedestrian hazard, forcing pedestrians to walk single file or even in the road.
Location of any facilities – they would have to be accessible to Council collection vehicles as well as residents, yet also minimise noise, disturbance, and smells to adjacent flats, especially those on the ground floor.
A neighbouring block whose recycling area is regularly turned into a fly tip with mattresses, other furniture, household appliances, children’s bicycles and toys being dumped there. The residents have to bear the additional costs of having the items removed and the area deep cleaned and sanitised.
Our own bins, which regularly have similar items thrown in, e.g. small tables, chairs, bookcases, pictures, lamps, sets of cutlery/kitchenware, children’s toys. A regular occurrence caused mostly by sub-tenants moving out, and failing to dispose of their unwanted belongings appropriately.
The Council will take cardboard boxes from our bins, as long as they are emptied and flattened, yet regularly the bin men refuse to take it because residents dump their boxes into the bins unflattened and with polystyrene still inside. The chances of removal are improved if large sheets of cardboard are cut into smaller pieces.
The bin for paper and magazines we used to have at the main entrance, which was regularly abused by having carboard, plastic and food waste put in it (contaminating the contents), as well as having general rubbish left around it (creating a fly tip). This was despite frequent and repeated requests to residents to use the bin correctly, and the bin itself being clearly and visibly labelled. The bin was withdrawn as the contents were deemed contaminated and not suitable for recycling.
Members observed that recycling in flats only works successfully where there is a concierge, and feel strongly that until a more fool-proof system, such as single stream of fully commingled recycling (as operated by Westminster Council for its mansion blocks) can be implemented, the current system would have a highly detrimental impact on Surbiton Court’s environment. The Council itself has identified recurring issues with recycling in blocks of flats. It is impossible to identify individuals who do not sort their items correctly: loads are thus contaminated, and the Council is unable to take action against those residents.

The Board is conscious of its responsibilities, both to Members and more widely. Over the years it has implemented sustainable and environmentally-friendly measures, materials and methods in the upkeep and maintenance of Surbiton Court: the complete re-roofing and subsequent periodic re-painting of the roof with eco-friendly materials and paint; the introduction of energy saving lighting and SmartMeters throughout the common parts; and the propagation and transplanting of plants in the garden (rather than buying new ones) wherever practicable.

On a broader scale, the Board (on behalf of Members) contributed to the restoration of St Andrew’s Square and the cost of erecting the railings which had been removed in WW2 (SCRA was the second largest donor after Waitrose); a former Director was instrumental in the setting up of Surbiton Farmers Market; and the Board regularly liaises with our Neighbourhood Watch.

As well as such responsibilities, however, the Board has a duty to maintain Surbiton Court (the whole infrastructure and its unique environment) for the benefit of Members: this includes the careful consideration of anything which might have a negative impact on that

We are all aware of our impact on the planet and Members understand that recycling in Surbiton Court is a complex issue. Any system would have to be exactly right for Surbiton Court: there is not a ‘one size fits all’ and, although the Council do tailor systems for blocks of flats, Surbiton Court’s environment is unique.

Members are not against recycling per se, but recognise that the implementation of any recycling regime in Surbiton Court would have to be practicable and workable, sustainable in the long term, and not dependent on volunteers. Experience has shown that when residents have volunteered for various duties, the system breaks down when they move away. The transient, impermanent nature of residency in sub-let flats cannot be ignored: the occupancy in some of the smaller flats averages 6 - 12 months. Any such programme would have to be right, and work, for Surbiton Court as it would be counter-intuitive to introduce anything that would be detrimental to its unique character, ambience and environment.

Members have also discussed other, more effective, ways in which residents can contribute to the fight against climate change, instead of focussing solely on recycling: fundamental issues such as air pollution, car ownership/usage, and dietary and consumer behaviours. Kingston Council has led the way by introducing and developing extensive cycling routes. Post-Covid, the Council has undertaken to increase these still further. The Council is also trialling other initiatives to create a sustainable borough by implementing measures to improve air quality: lower traffic schemes, the active promotion of walking and cycling, and the use of public transport (Surbiton already has one of the most comprehensive transport networks in the country).

Proposals to find a workable and sustainable approach to recycling in Surbiton Court are ongoing. Any queries please contact q.bins@surbitoncourt.com or services@surbitoncourt.com.