Forum Topic

2 women looking through rubbish

I have just seen 2 Romanian looking women in Friars Place Lane with an empty pushchair going into front gardens and ripping open rubbish bags.  I asked them what they were doing and they said they were looking for clothes.They left when and I asked them to but the rubbish bags have been left ripped open with rubbish spilling out.

Jacqueline Davis ● 4731d25 Comments

I expect they will be in The West Acton area as per usual around 11pm tonight........Doing the same.

Ellie Rose ● 4731d

They were up to it in Friars lane last night where there were piles of ripped black bags with their content strewn across the pavement. Why people still put the rubbish out at night when you know they will be ripped by scavengers and you will have to live with the mess for days baffles me. Especially when around here the collection is quite late.

Kim Rugg ● 4731d

Think they might have been in the Highlands Avenue area too, as some bin bags were torn open on Wednesday morning.People put their rubbish out the night before as it can be very unpredictable as to what time it will be collected, also it is something less to do in the morning before going off to work!

Amanda Knights ● 4730d

I have to say I find this quite concerning.  My first thought was identity theft and bank fraud I have to say.

Phil Taylor ● 4730d

A thought.With regards to identity theft, as paper for recycling goes into the green recycling boxes, why would these women choose to rummage through the rubbish bags instead?Perhaps along the street, they did actually find clothes in a bin bag.I would imagine, any 'larger than average' bin bag is a signal to these women that it might contain something they could reuse.

Fred Bray ● 4730d

Any larger than usual bin bag is a signal that someone is not recycling (ie not separating and taking care with their waste) and so could contain something reusable including paperwork!

Philippa Bond ● 4730d

Philippa et al.,The bin bags that were open were usual size bins bags and contained items that were not really recyclable. There was no paperwork in the bags - we always shred anything that has anything identifiable on it.We think they look for bags that perhaps feel 'soft' - but they are probably disappointed to find the 'soft'bag contains nothing useful - used kitchen towels/tissues/ cotton wool, maybe even disposable nappies if the householder has a baby (I don't). All things that cannot be recycled, and yes Philippa, perhaps people shouldn't use such things, but they do. We all have items that cannot be recycled, so need to use bin bags. We just all need to be careful about what does get put in them as regards personal data - and in our green boxes.

Amanda Knights ● 4730d

I've read a lot about this of late, although unless I've missed something this is all speculation as to why they are rummaging.Has anyone actually seen them take any paperwork out of a bin yet?Carl

Carl Tamboli ● 4730d

Exactly, the most attractive looking bags will be the fuller bags or more than one placed outside.Maybe LBE should re-write this page then:"Refuse collectionBlack sacks collectionBlack sacks should be left at the front of your property by 7am on your collection day.  Your refuse will be collected on the same day as your recycling.Any person unable to place their refuse out before 7am on the collection day may leave it out (as late as possible) the night before. An £80 fine is imposed for refuse left out more than a day in advance of a scheduled collection. The fine is reduced to £50 if paid within 10 days.Where possible, we suggest that you put out your rubbish early on the morning of your collection day to avoid avoid animals, eg foxes and cats, ripping open your rubbish sack. The collection schedule varies around Christmas, Easter and bank holidays.Please note: Garden waste is not allowed in the normal refuse collection. We do not provide black refuse sacks for domestic refuse. Missed refuse collectionsIf for any reason your refuse or recycling is not collected and you report it to the council before midday it will be collected that day. Otherwise it will be collected the following working day.Report a missed collection online or telephone (020) 8825 6000.Pages in Commercial waste at re-use and recycling centresYou are here: Black sacks collectionCommunal binsWheelie binsNon-collectable item list"The best method I have seen which allows you to leave stuff outside overnight is in a small lidded dustbin just inside the boundary of a property.

Philippa Bond ● 4730d

http://www.letsrecycle.com/prices/textileshttp://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/textiles/textiles-market-2018becoming-increasingly-difficult2019There used to be some video of someone stuck in a clothes bank who had been trying to steal clothing. There is a lot less nowadays in the charity shops - especially men's and children's.

Philippa Bond ● 4730d

There is a shop at the northern end of Horn Lane that will give you cash for old clothes.  These are springing up all over the place.So, they must exchange the clothes for cash.  No doubt a Mr. Big is behind the whole operation.  Similar to the selling of roses at junctions on roads.

Dee Cook ● 4730d

Whilst in west Ealing this morning I noted a 'charity' shop on the western end/southern side of the Uxbridge Road full of clothes and junk.  A lady of eastern European likeness was sorting out the clothes from plastic bags of the type that is being used by these ladies to collect stuff from our black bags.Could it be that all our rubbish is ending up here?  It certainly looked as though it was.  The smell in the shop was not nice and most of the items were very dirty.

Dee Cook ● 4728d

After seeing so many garments which are need of just a little bit of mending that just get put in the scrap bin because they are not considered to be in a good enough state to put on the racks in a charity shop; I wonder if anyone has ever considered offering to sew buttons on, put elastic in etc.

Philippa Bond ● 4726d

Philippa, I spend hours every week on the side of a pool and have become a bit of a fixture as I always have my sewing bag and I am sewing patches onto my sons trousers, hems, buttons on or making curtains for the playhouse. People including women are always amazed at my skills! Sadly what used to be essential everyday skills are being lost and the cheaper clothes get the less people think it is worth mending them.You will be pleased to hear that I am planning a sewing activity at my son's scout group to teach them basic sewing skills so they can at least sew their badges on!

Kim Rugg ● 4726d

What a brilliant idea Kim.  I read ages ago that many shirts were just thrown away because of missing buttons. (I also knew a chap who threw away shirts rather than bothering with washing and ironing them!)My mother must have mended so many school shirts which had had their buttons ripped off by strengthening the fabric the button was sewn onto with a little piece of tape out of sight in the fold of the fabric. I've done that but have also mended a lot of with iron-on interfacing - sometimes stitched as well and sometimes not.  The interfacing is very useful for favourite pieces of clothing that are wearing thin.

Philippa Bond ● 4724d

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3gFd6iiYJwI think I heard the same programme as the lady who started the Stitch in Time Group in Kingston on this little video.http://ealingtransition.org.uk/There is a re-skilling day here.Is there something in Acton?  I seem to remember a sewing group.

Philippa Bond ● 4724d

The Milliband thread turned into a Belgium thread, now the bin raider thread is turning into a sewing  thread!My favourite trick is to iron on patches on the inside of trousers before they rip. This adds at least a year to the wearable life of a pair or trousers.

Kim Rugg ● 4724d

Yep, I did that too with school trousers - after a pair came home with holes in the knees during the first week of term!I remember the Recycling Officer for Ealing explaining that even socks with holes in could be recycled in the recycling box.  Rags are turned into lots of things eg flocking and insulation.  It is not just good clothing that can be recycled.  We are obviously still throwing away a lot that still has use to landfill.

Philippa Bond ● 4724d

The Recycling Officer may have said that even socks with holes in could be recycled, but no one told the recycling teams! In my experience, any time we left out textiles for recycling - clearly labelled - they were left behind. Does Acton 'tip' have a textiles recycling area? We have taken things up to ASDA and put them in the textiles recycling bin in the car park, but not everyone can do that.

Amanda Knights ● 4724d

http://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/200489/recycling_rubbish_and_waste/292/commercial_waste_at_re-use_and_recycling_centres/2Textiles - Yes (in a carrier bag)  The same for the Green Box.Re-use and recycling centresActon Re-use and Recycling CentreLocation: Stirling Road, W3 8DJTel: (020) 8993 7580 Opening times: Mon-Sun, 8am–5pm (between 1 April-30 September) and 8am–4pm (between 1 October-31 March).The centre is open all year round except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.Only cars are allowed onto this site and no commercial waste is accepted. How to recycle:Most materials are collected separately and you will find it easier and quicker to separate items before visiting the recycling banks and re-use and recycling centres.In addition to general waste, the following recyclable materials are accepted: Material Type of material accepted and how to recycle it Glass bottles and jars:All glass bottles and jars of any colour. Please rinse out all containers. Glass bins are separated into clear, green and brown (blue glass should go into the green glass bin).No drinking glasses, window glass, Pyrex, glass ornaments or any other glass objects.Cans, tins and aerosol cans:All food and drinks cans and aerosols. Please rinse out cans and crush if possible taking care of any sharp edges. Foil may also be placed in these bins for recycling.No gas canisters or spray paints.Cardboard:All typesPaper:All newspaper, magazines, directories and non-window envelopes.No window envelopes, card or Yellow Pages.Textiles:Any clothing including under garments, belts, bags, handkerchiefs, towels, bed linen, curtains, blankets, material. Please put items in carrier bags if possible before depositing in recycling bin.Shoes:Pairs only - shoes should be tied together or placed in a carrier bag.No single shoes.Plastics:All types of household plastic and most hard plasticsPlease rinse containers out first.No polystyrene, pvc or clingfilm/bubble wrapScrap metal:Any kind of scrap metal items including washing machines, bicycles and cookers.No fridges or freezers.Garden waste:All garden waste eg grass clippings, prunings, dead flowers.No food waste, large trees, soil, fallen fruit or plastic bags. The garden waste collection scheme and composting also provide an alternative to disposing of garden waste in the waste and recycling centres.Engine oil:Motor engine oil. Please keep separate from cooking oil.Cooking oil:Please keep separate from motor engine oil. Aerosol cans:No gas canisters or spray paints.Books:Re-useable books in good condition. Small electrical items:Vacuum cleaners, televisions, computers etcToner cartridges:All types accepted.Bric-a-brac:Old toys, games, videos etc of good quality are collected by a local charity.Wood:Southall: All clean, unpainted wood. No laminate, chipboard, MDF or doors.Acton: Mixed wood, including laminate, chipboard, MDF, painted wood.Mobile phones:Preferably dispose with the phone's charger enabling them to be repaired and re-used in some cases.Yellow Pages:Please do not put in the paper bins.I've added some colons to help it make more sense on here, it is easier to read in the format on the website.  If you print it off the website you can have it in two pages if you specify you only want the first two. (It would be better on one page)

Philippa Bond ● 4723d

Yes Philippa, that might be what the website says about recycling textiles, but in practice that is not what has happened!Items put in a carrier bag in the green box labelled textiles have been left behind left!I have been to Acton Re-use and Recycling centre many times, but have not seen a textile recycling facility - probably hidden away somewhere.

Amanda Knights ● 4723d

Amanda, I think from memory the textiles "bin" is a large container where people throw clothing, linen etc.. located behind the main rows of containers and the dumper for items that get crushed, at the end near the perimeter wall backing onto the road. If you ask the staff on site they are very helpful in my experience.

Joe Conneely ● 4723d

Quite a few of the charity shops will happily take bags of clothes, or household fabrics that are unsuitable for further use - they can sell them on for recycling and get a little bit of money from them

Nina Battleday ● 4723d

Its just bad training. They should take textiles. Complain. I had a similar problem with batteries.

Bob Crossley ● 4723d

I have recently been putting elastic in trousers for an elderly relative with arthritis so that she can continue to wear her own clothes.  It has taken me a lot longer than I would like because I rely on her having what needs attention ready for me when I visit.Just a few stitches for hems that have come down and extra elastic (you can find brilliant stuff with ready made holes for buttons) hopefully will make tripping up on trousers less likely.I've also looked in the past for clothing in charity shops for people who need extra easy-to-wear clothing.  Please keep on giving your used clothing to charity shops - even if you think nobody would want it - there are people who do.  There is nothing wrong with hand-me-downs!

Philippa Bond ● 4718d