Fees have been scrapped for families in London’s East End wanting to dump their bulky household waste like old fridges and mattresses.
The controversial £15 Tower Hamlets council charge for collecting bulk waste introduced by Lutfur Rahman in 2012 has been put on the scrap heap by the man who has now replaced him as mayor.
Each household is now entitled to two free collections a year, up to five items in each collection.
“I want communities working together to improve the environment, from bins to bikes and green spaces,” new mayor John Biggs said. “The previous mayor exacerbated our street waste problem introducing charges for bulk waste collection.
“I’m pleased that we’re reversing the charge and hopefully we won’t be seeing old mattresses on the streets!”
His cabinet has agreed to set aside £200,000 for a fleet of new cleansing vehicles and more street-sweepers to keep the East End’s highways and byways spic and span.
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