Oldham housing association announces new strategy aimed at making neighbourhoods cleaner and greener

Oldham’s biggest social housing provider, First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO), is launching a new three-year strategy to help tackle fly-tipping and waste in its neighbourhoods to make them cleaner, greener, great places for people to live.

The housing association is pledging its support for Oldham Council’s Don’t Trash Oldham campaign by announcing a series of plans to help clear up its neighbourhoods worst affected by dumped rubbish – kicking off with community waste collection days in Sholver this week.

Designed to help customers get rid of unwanted bulky items, FCHO has provided customers with free access to skips and removal vans in which customers can dispose of sealed bin bags of rubbish, furniture and white goods.

Bolstering this work, the housing association is cordoning off any fly-tipped waste with environmental crime scene tape and turning detective to catch those responsible for it - issuing charges starting at £132 and ensuring the waste is cleared.

The aim is to help drive down the amount of waste abandoned on FCHO-owned land.

The social landlord is teaming up with local partners and contractors to deliver its waste management strategy to maximise results for local people.

Engagement activities with Oldham Council teams are planned to educate customers on the issues that fly-tipping causes and help boost recycling rates, and FCHO will give extra support to community litter picking groups, which are already trying to make a difference in their neighbourhoods.

Improvements to bin facilities at communal blocks of flats are also part of the housing provider’s plans.

FCHO will target neighbourhoods where fly-tipping and waste have been identified as being a particular cause for concern, on a rolling programme between now and March 2025.

Once an area has been cleared up, FCHO will be asking customers to do their bit to keep it looking good.

David Wrigley, FCHO Head of Neighbourhood Care, said: “We want to provide great neighbourhoods for our customers and communities, and we know how important it is to customers that their neighbourhoods are looked after.

“Unfortunately fly-tipping and waste are persistent issues across many FCHO-owned areas.

"This rubbish is unsightly, unpleasant and a nuisance, and it can be a health and safety risk too.

"Dealing with it costs us more than £250K per year to deal with, too – putting pressure on our services and diverting money and resources away from other important services for our customers.

“The pilot projects that we ran last autumn to test new ways to deal with waste and gather customer feedback were invaluable learning tools for us.

"The findings have shaped our new strategy which will help us clean up our neighbourhoods and make them neater, tidier, more attractive and sustainable places to live – now and in the future.

“We really want to make a positive difference in our neighbourhoods and for our customers to feel proud of where they live.

"After we have cleared rubbish from an area, we will be working with our customers to help keep it clean.”

Councillor Amanda Chadderton, Leader of Oldham Council, said: “Cleaning up our communities is a priority for the council and our partners First Choice Homes Oldham as we both want a clean, green and safe borough.

“FCHO have supported Don’t Trash Oldham since it was launched, and we’d like to see more people and organisations following their lead and getting behind this important campaign.

“Events like this build on the work council teams are doing every day, as we are determined to make a real difference and improve people’s lives and the communities they live in.

“The vast majority of our residents look after their communities, but if we are going to make lasting improvements then everyone needs to do their bit and dispose of their waste properly.

"If they don’t then we will take action.”

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