Merton Mega Skips
Residents across Merton tell us how frustrated they are with litter and fly-tipping on our streets. Under Labour, the problem has spiralled. We have a plan to fix it.
Back in our 2022 manifesto, we proposed ‘pop-up waste skips’, bringing waste collection closer to communities. In summer 2022, Liberal Democrat councillors formally recommended community skip schemes at Council, and this was adopted the following September.
Since then, the Council has delivered 42 pop-up tips across the borough, with 12,256 residents making use of the service. This success didn’t happen by accident, it happened because Liberal Democrats had a clear plan and pushed for it.
Labour adopted the idea, but only partially, and without the ambition needed to truly tackle fly-tipping.
Now we want take it further. As part of our plan for a Safer, Cleaner borough, we will introduce Merton Mega Skips, expanding and improving the pop-up tip model to make it work for everyone.
Merton Mega Skips would operate on a published schedule, placing large skips in different parts of the borough for a few hours at a time and notifying nearby households to avoid overcrowding and make sure local residents can benefit.
Walking 20 minutes to the nearest pop-up tip isn’t practical for many residents, especially older or disabled people. We’ll bring Mega Skips closer to your home, so they are convenient and accessible. We’ll also make sure help is on hand to transport heavy or bulky items from your home to the skip, so no one is left struggling.
We will go further by reducing waste and supporting the community. By partnering with local organisations, as seen in Lib Dem-run Richmond, we will collect reusable furniture, upcycle it, and redistribute it to residents who need it. Instead of throwing everything away, we will help tackle furniture poverty and build a more sustainable borough.
Labour has shown they are willing to copy Liberal Democrat ideas, but not to deliver them fully.
Merton Mega Skips are a practical, deliverable solution. They build on a proven Liberal Democrat idea, improve access for residents, and help tackle fly-tipping in a realistic and cost-conscious way.
Further reading:
Merton Mega Skips is to supplement the Council’s existing ‘pop-up tips’ model and will be deployed in the areas with the worst fly-tipping rates.