No bins on Club Site

I don't know if TDA would agree but it looked as if the bins at Ferry Meadows may well have had the types of waste details on the the bin lids but they just seem to have worn off. You could make out what was once white paint but it didn't form words!!! Ferry Meadows is a site we have been to quite a lot over the years as its fairly near home. Have to say I was slightly disappointed on this trip. Apart from it being expensive!! The part open all year has an almost unusable motorhome waste point. Other than toilet chemicals and gas, nothing else was for sale in reception. Gas was advertise in one of the windows of reception with a price but rather pointedly "cash only" notice which didn't appear very welcoming. We have obviously learnt nothing from COVID in the way of cash less transactions?

David

Thanks for reporting Brue. It’s quite likely as DK says that the bins were once marked up, but it’s certainly not obvious now, and wasn’t last year when we were over on the other side, so that’s a quick fix really👍

Thanks JK. I had an incline it might have been Marazion. It’s not a site that really needs a tractor, so good on you! 

Great insight from another Member of staff as well Mark👍 Wholeheartedly agree with what you say. No way should staff have to sort through bags of rubbish in any way.

We got good vfm at FM DK. Wasn’t peak season, no energy supplement and still with the VAT discount, so a reasonable £21 or so for us. The location was perfect as we wanted the cycling, so happy to pay that for three nights. But we wouldn’t have paid what you did. Much prefer the seasonal side as well, we were on grass last year. We didn’t use the MH emptying point, as we simply hook a bucket under our waste tap and empty this after a shower, so no big tank of water to dispose of, it’s just our preference on some Sites. Just out of interest, did you see the alarms going off at the sewage system by the exit gate? It happened each morn8ng we were there, tying up staff each time.🤷‍♀️

Even labelling bins is not certain. I wonder at both the literacy and mentality of some members. Masses of cardboard/bottles in general waste and often the cardboard is still in voluminous mode. They don't even have the nous to flatten it. Ot's a good job the dinosaurs died out before we turned up. We'd never have outwitted them.

Have heard it said by site staff that the beginning and end of season was the worst time for the dumping of items which would never go in home bins. From car/leisure batteries to old pet bedding, from TVs to microwaves, from camping chairs to old walking boots and even awnings. The list may be endless but I’ve also heard of items being deliberately brought from home to site bins which have never ever been used on a camp site. What are we like?  Maybe one bin area covered by CCTV is needed.

In my very limited experience of club sites I've noticed there are unfortunately a significant number of, to be blunt, lazy slobs who cannot be bothered to think what they do with there rubbish.

One point does however spring to mind. There is no joined up recycling structure from borough to borough, let alone throughout counties, and definitely not throughout the country. Everywhere seems to do it differently and so the club cannot really have a standard approach to bin contents across all sites, it will have to be on a local basis. So when you travel 100 miles to a site in a different part of the country some confusion will arise on what you are supposed to stick where.

Answer, one clearly labelled set of wheelie bins at one location with easy access for staff, campers and refuse collection. 

Isn't this what we experience when on the continent.

Colin

eM, that I understand. Think the club adopted a one fits all approach across the network at one time. Then the local refuse companies picked the bones out of what was collected. Think it was all coordinated by one central coordinating  ‘provider’.
Our authority started out decades ago on the recycling mission with about four different bins per household, now it’s one bin takes all and they tell us that their recycling efforts and credentials have never been better. 

Do you get your beer in cans 

I do 😉

Currently at Chatsworth which has a central bin point near the toilet block.  Seems to work well and it’s more or less in the centre of the site.  I think it’s a good idea.  The one for recycling is clearly labelled with what you can out in it and anything else goes in the other.

The Club has and is reviewing how the Site Network manages their waste process on site to try and mitigate the number of bin bags it currently uses, reduce manual handling and also remove the danger from sharp objects stabbing staff.

Over the past two years we have trialled centralised waste points on some sites to understand the impact to both members and staff. Large bins have been placed in central location or at the exit at some well chosen sites, these bins are propped open so the member does not have to lift any heavy lids, for both for mixed recycling and general waste. Guests and members should be informed of the waste system on arrival by the team or via a site leaflet and if there are any concerns the team are always on hand to support.

Since we have been using this system on a few of our sites, we have saved thousands of plastic bags going into the waste stream (a real win for the environment), our recycling rates have increased and we have had no accidents with sharp objects stabbing the site teams. The reduction of manual handling has also been welcome, as depending on the site and the amount of waste left behind, the bin bags in the 'dust bins' can be exceptionally heavy.

We are still trialling these centralised areas, and we do appreciate there will be mixed feelings about them, but I am sure everyone will agree, if we can reduce the amount of waste we produce, it's a win for everyone.