News Roundup
Wet Wipe Island on the Thames
A 180-tonne “island” of congealed wet wipes has formed along a 250m stretch of the Thames near Hammersmith Bridge — roughly the size of two tennis courts and up to a metre high. Thames Water is bringing in an 8-ton excavator to remove it, but Alasdair points out two big issues: people flushing wipes that contain plastic, and overflows that allow them to bypass sewage treatment. Meanwhile, Thames Water have started using new “spike-trap” devices in sewers to trace habitual blockages back to households — and potentially fine offenders (Telegraph report).
Waste Crime Crackdown in Lincolnshire
The Environment Agency has confiscated £75,000 from illegal waste operators — but this case stood out for also fining machine operators and drivers who delivered waste to the site. With landfill tax now £126/tonne, waste crime is lucrative. But prosecuting the whole chain could be a smarter way to curb it.
Food Waste Costs Families £90/Month
New research in Wales shows households are binning around £90 worth of edible food every month — nearly £1,000 a year. Despite separate food collections, 80% of what’s wasted could have been eaten. Alasdair notes that when councils introduce food bins, the real eye-opener is often how much waste families suddenly see.
North Ayrshire’s Reuse Row
A political spat erupted after it emerged that second-hand mattresses and furniture were being reused to furnish council homes. One councillor criticised the scheme as “undignified”, but Alasdair argues it’s the right approach: better to clean, restore, and give items a second life than send them to landfill — especially when people urgently need them.
Pannage Pigs in the New Forest
Hundreds of pigs have been released for the annual pannage season to eat fallen acorns (toxic to ponies and cattle). But with new food waste collections introduced, concerns are growing that pigs might target the food bins instead. As Jane discovered, pannage season can be a little… carnage.
Topic: Waste Collection Methods
This week, Alasdair and Jane dive into the fascinating history of household waste collections — and how they’ve evolved into the systems we rely on today.
In the early 19th century, waste was often dumped in streets, rivers, or open land, fuelling disease outbreaks like cholera. The Public Health Act of 1848 changed everything, requiring local authorities to manage waste removal — and giving us the household collection service that continues today. Back then, “dust yards” dominated, where ash and cinders from coal fires were collected and reused in brick-making or agriculture.
From there, collections shifted with the times:
· Late 19th century: councils built “destructor” incinerators, though air pollution shut many down. Landfilling grew rapidly in the 20th century.
· Wartime austerity: encouraged repair, reuse, and recycling.
· 1950s–70s consumer boom: convenience packaging exploded, and landfills filled with unnecessary waste.
· 1980s–90s: the shift from heavy metal bins and fragile black sacks to plastic wheelie bins, aided by manual handling regulations and safer lifting gear.
Today, collection methods vary:
· Kerbside sort (as in Wales) delivers high-quality recycling by separating materials at the roadside.
· Wheelie bins dominate across most of the UK, with multiple bins for different streams.
· Communal systems are common in flats and in parts of Europe, sometimes with ID-controlled access to improve compliance.
· Automated driver-only vehicles are used in some rural and commercial settings to reduce labour costs.
Behind it all lies a significant cost: in 2018, the average household waste management bill (collections, recycling, and disposal) was £154 per household per year — around 7p in every £1 of council tax. Crews juggle expensive vehicles, complex routing, and rising health and safety risks, all while trying to keep services efficient and reliable.
Key takeaway: Waste collection may look simple from the kerbside, but behind the bins lies two centuries of evolution, innovation, and cost balancing. And perhaps the one thing we should have sorted years ago? Consistent bin colours across the UK.
Rubbish Rant (Well… Not Quite!)
This week, Alasdair surprised us by swapping his usual rant for something a little more positive.
He’d just returned from the big resource management show at the NEC in Birmingham, where waste management, contaminated land, and environmental testing were all brought together under one roof. The event was buzzing — with busy stands, packed-out talks, and a real sense of energy across the sector.
Instead of frustration, this time Alasdair’s takeaway was simple: the waste industry feels lively, engaged, and full of momentum. A welcome boost for a sector that doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves.
Key takeaway: Sometimes, it’s good to remember — our sector isn’t just about problems to solve, but about the innovation, collaboration, and enthusiasm driving it forward.
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