In the news: Successful Crunch Month initiative cleans up estates across the borough

For a five-week period, the Crunch (council waste collection vehicles) visited each of the council's main towns, allowing residents to get rid of any built-up waste and dispose of all bulky items for free.

The Crunch was a huge success with thousands of residents visiting the locations each week to dispose of their waste and clean up their neighbourhoods. 

The mobile waste collection service visited 25 locations across five dates - one location in each of the borough's five towns per week. Over the five Saturdays, council crews collected 332.465 tonnes of waste - the equivalent of 30 double decker buses.

Alongside the new Crunch service, the council's waste teams targeted hotspots around the borough at Vange Hill Drive, Five Links, Chalvedon, Ghyllgrove and Felmores to clear any dumped rubbish, litter pick, and tidy up footpaths. In total we collected 26.6 tonnes across the five locations - the equivalent of 20 Ford Fiestas.

The initiative is just the start of the programme to fundamentally review the council's waste and recycling services.

On Monday 5 August the Waste Consultation launched to seek residents' views on their waste and recycling services and possible future changes, including the option to return to weekly black sack collections. The consultation is available online at - https://basildonwaste.commonplace.is/ and will form proposals for future waste collection services. The consultation can also be completed offline - and is available from the Basildon Centre or by attending roadshows where staff will be available to provide support.

Cllr Aidan McGurran, Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure, said: "That's a wrap for Crunch Month - which has been a stunning success. Thousands of residents came out each week to dispose of their waste and bulky items for free. It was brilliant to see people helping family, friends, neighbours, and those that weren't able to access the Crunch - demonstrating a real community spirit.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to our crew staff who have made the last five weeks possible - supporting our residents and bringing waste services to our neighbourhoods. I would also like to thank you, the residents, for getting stuck in and cleaning up the places you call home - it doesn't end there. Let's keep all these areas clean.

"Crunch Month has helped to reset the mistakes that were made previously. I know you want to have pride in in your neighbourhoods - and we are making that happen. Myself, and the rest of the administration are working hard to fix the bins and this initiative was just the start of that journey."

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Published 12 August 2024