📢 HILLINGDON GARDEN WASTE — IMPORTANT UPDATE, 5 NOVEMBER
The Council has now confirmed what happened to the request for further scrutiny of the wheelie-bin decision. Here is where things stand—and why your signature still matters.
🔎 WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS CONFIRMED
A request to call in the decision was made before the deadline. It was NOT rejected as invalid. However, only two of the seven committee members indicated support. The other five did not indicate support before the deadline. This was not a formal vote against the request.
Because the required majority was not reached, the request never progressed to a public scrutiny meeting. The Council says the Cabinet decision has now taken effect, implementation can proceed, and no further scrutiny of this decision is currently planned.
🏡 THE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS STILL NEED ANSWERS
The discussions here show that different households have very different needs. Some residents welcome wheelie bins for easier handling and more secure storage.
Others have terraced homes without side access, limited front-garden space, mobility difficulties or more garden waste than one bin can accommodate. The Cabinet report allows for sack-based alternatives where properties are unsuitable for bins.
But residents still need to know:
- Who will qualify, including homes without side access?
- What will the alternative cost?
- What capacity and collection frequency will it provide?
- How will residents request an assessment?
💷 WHAT DOES £69 ACTUALLY MEAN?
The Council describes £69 as the ANNUAL garden waste service charge PER BIN—not a one-off purchase price. Two bins would therefore cost £138 a year; three would cost £207.
With collections moving from weekly to fortnightly, comparisons need to account for both capacity AND frequency. A lower headline price does not mean every household will pay less for the service it needs.
📄 I AM STILL SEEKING THE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
The Council projects annual savings of around £800,000. Residents deserve to understand how the planned bin purchases, temporary vehicle hire and replacement vehicles fit into those calculations. Initial spending does not, by itself, mean savings are impossible. But the full costs, assumptions and expected subscription levels need to be clear.
The Council has acknowledged my information requests under the Environmental Information Regulations and given a response deadline of 2 December 2026.
✍️ PLEASE KEEP SIGNING AND SHARING
The call-in deadline has passed, but the questions about affordability, access, capacity and consultation remain. The petition asks the Council to reconsider the decision, pause implementation for meaningful public consultation, and publish a fully costed assessment of the changes and reasonable alternatives.
Whether you prefer sacks or wheelie bins, residents should be able to understand the proposals and explain what will work for their homes.
Please sign if you support those aims, and share with neighbours across Hillingdon—especially in areas the petition has not yet reached.
Thank you to everyone who has signed, shared and raised practical questions. Your support continues to make residents’ concerns visible.
#Hillingdon #GardenWaste #ConsultResidents