Sunday photostroll 28 December 2008 - 13:47 (Click <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanstanton/3152449184/sizes/l/in/photostream/">here</a> to enlarge.)

Notice how "neat and tidy" a few people have been. Rubbish dumped in a little brick nook. ══════════════════

♦ ♦ What's this about?

A resident complained to me about a pile of dumped waste on Lansdowne Road, Tottenham, London N17. At the time I was one of her elected local councillors. So I walked to the place to see for myself.

No prizes for guessing that the wood and windows came from builders - perhaps saving a few quid on their waste contract and freeloading on Haringey Council and Haringey Enterprise, then the Council's waste contractors.

And perhaps the boxes were added to the pile by local residents.

Imitation seems a big factor in street dumping. With a negative feedback loop: the more it becomes the norm, the more other people join in.

♦ ♦ Why take photos rather than just <a href="https://www.fixmystreet.com/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">report it for clearance?</a>

Because simply to clear-up dumping does not solve the problem. It doesn't even try to understand the problem and its possible causes and remedies.

Perversely, monitoring and reporting by itself probably makes things worse. Because regular and efficient clearance from dumped streets and corner sites confirms the expectations of a minority of people that it is acceptable to leave stuff there, at any hour, seven days a week. They ‘learn’ that it's a free and quick way to get rid of smelly waste bags; or an old TV; or any other detritus.

Much quicker and easier than keeping it for collection from their own wheelie bins for general waste or recycling. Haringey's main system. Or taking waste to a 'Bring Site' or Reuse & Recycling Centre - the second option.

♦ ♦ The Third System

My photos support the suggestion that - in large parts of Haringey - the Council's Urban Environment Department has dismally failed to engage and get co-operation from significant numbers of residents; as well as some traders, landlords, managing agents and builders.

Street dumping has become what I call: "the third system". An unofficial and illegal, but effective method of waste disposal.

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§ Walking to Lansdowne Road I also saw a lot of dumping in nearby streets, so I took <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanstanton/sets/72157611789258728/">a set of photos</a>.