London Borough of Tower Hamlets (19 007 237)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 27-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Ms X’s complaint about changes to the Council’s refuse and recycling collection at her building. This is because it is unlikely we would find fault affecting the Council’s decision and we cannot achieve the outcome Ms X wants.

London Borough of Lambeth (19 007 336)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 27-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr X’s complaint that the Council agreed to waive its charge to remove a dead animal from his land but invoiced him for £70. This is because the Council’s actions did not cause Mr X significant injustice.

Birmingham City Council (19 002 551)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 26-Sep-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council repeatedly failed to collect her recycling on the scheduled day or in a timely manner when collections were missed between November 2018 and June 2019. The Council’s repeated failure to collect Mrs X’s recycling over a seven-month period amounts to fault. As does the Council’s failure to properly investigate Mrs X’s complaints. These faults have caused Mrs X an injustice.

Birmingham City Council (19 006 768)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 25-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about the Council’s decision to remove the communal recycling bin. This is because there is insufficient evidence of injustice.

London Borough of Barnet (18 018 129)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 24-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr B’s complaint about delays by the Council in dealing with his complaints about bins obstructing the footpath. The Council has now said it will take action against households who obstruct the public highway with rubbish bins. And while the Council has delayed dealing with Mr B’s complaint, this has not caused a significant personal injustice to Mr B.

Birmingham City Council (19 005 221)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 24-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complains the Council insists his mother uses a wheelie bin for her garden waste instead of the sacks used previously. The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint as we are unlikely to find fault in the way the Council decided to replace the sacks with a bin.

Scarborough Borough Council (19 002 972)

Statement Not upheld Refuse and recycling 24-Sep-2019

Summary: Mrs X complains the Council failed to properly communicate with her or consult her about changes it made to her refuse collections. The Council’s decision was in accordance with its existing policy and the law. We found there was no fault in the way the Council changed Mrs X’s refuse collection service.

Devon County Council (19 007 541)

Statement Closed after initial enquiries Refuse and recycling 24-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate Mr A’s complaint that the Council overcharged him for the disposal of rubble. This is because the injustice caused by the alleged fault is not so significant as to warrant the Ombudsman’s involvement.

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham (18 004 918)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 23-Sep-2019

Summary: Mr X complains about repeated missed recycling bin collections from his block of flats since May 2018. He says the Council has not paid him the compensation it promised. The Ombudsman found evidence of fault in how the Council repeatedly missed collections at from Mr X’s block of flats and in how it handled his resulting complaints. This caused him a significant injustice in the form of frustration and his time and trouble in resolving it. The Ombudsman recommended it should apologise to Mr X, ensure it now pays him the money it promised and put in place measures to prevent this happening again. The Council has agreed to do so.

Birmingham City Council (19 006 497)

Statement Upheld Refuse and recycling 17-Sep-2019

Summary: The Ombudsman will not investigate this complaint about missed refuse collections in June. This is because the refuse collection service has now improved.