Purpose of Petition 

We, the undersigned residents of Waltham Forest, call upon the Council to terminate its contract with the current waste and recycling contractor due to persistent, documented, and avoidable damage to household bins, followed by unlawful charges to residents for replacements. 

Background 

Over a sustained period, residents across the borough have experienced: 

- Repeated damage to standard‑issue Council bins during routine collections. 

- Charges levied on residents for replacement bins, despite the damage being caused by the contractor. 

- Dismissive responses when residents raise concerns, including at a recent Scrutiny Committee meeting. 

- No corrective action, no retraining of staff, and no change in operational practice.

Our Position 

Residents should never be financially penalised for damage caused by the Council's own contractor. The current arrangement creates a perverse incentive: the contractor damages bins, residents pay for replacements, and the contractor continues without consequence. This is unacceptable.

What We Are Calling For 

We request that Waltham Forest Council: 

(1) Terminate the contract with the current waste contractor at the earliest lawful opportunity. We do not believe the contractor should see out its full eight‑year term, given the scale, frequency, and persistence of bin damage occurring under its operation. 

(2) Cease all resident charges for bin replacements where damage is caused by contractor handling. 

(3) Issue refunds to residents previously charged under these circumstances. 

(4) Conduct a full audit of contractor performance, including damage rates and complaints 

(5) Introduce contractual penalties for any future contractor who damages Council‑issued bins. 

(6) Publish transparent performance data so residents can monitor compliance