Clapham residents have noticed improved cleanliness following council disputes over the removal and replacement of bins.
The removal of street bins was particularly noticeable along Clapham High Street and Wandsworth Road at the end of June.
Local resident Lara Koppel said: “I was upset when there was nowhere to put my rubbish along the high street.
“I first noticed the bins had been removed after going on a walk and having nowhere to put my coffee cup.
“The streets were disgusting and the area looked unkempt.
“But now that the bins are back, Clapham High Street feels a lot cleaner and there is less rubbish on the streets.”
Lambeth Council removed the bins as part of a borough-wide street-cleaning programme to install new bins aimed at increasing recycling rates and improving high streets.
Lambeth Labour took matters into its own hands and, in August, started a petition called “Bring Back Our Bins!”
Patrick O’Donnell, one of the Labour councillors campaigning for more public bins, said: “The positive response to our litter bin campaign shows residents clearly want the council to focus on getting the basics right so they can play their part to keep our communities clean.
“Residents and businesses told us that rubbish had accumulated since public bins were removed from a number of locations.
“Yet they were left without a clear explanation for seven weeks while local Labour councillors repeatedly pressed for the bins to be returned.
“There is no excuse for the Green-run council removing bins, keeping communities in the dark and allowing rubbish to accumulate on our streets.
“We will continue pushing the Lambeth Green-run council to reinstate all our missing bins to keep our neighbourhood clean and welcoming for all.”
However, the Lambeth Green Party disputes Labour’s account of the bins’ return.
A Lambeth Green Party spokesperson said: “Lambeth Council upgraded all the bins across Clapham to new ones.
“A few replacements were delayed by contractors and weren’t put back in the right place.
“These replacements were scheduled under a waste and street cleansing contract signed in 2021 by a Labour administration.
“So, the Labour councillors know very well that they’re misinforming residents.”
The changes aim to improve recycling and the appearance of local high streets, while the political dispute over who is responsible for their return continues.
Featured image credit: Issy Hobson
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