Sutton residents are furious as around 1,500 queue to collect new recycling bins.
The chaos is centred around the B&Q carpark where bins are being handed out from a lorry on Sutton Court Road.
300 metre 2 hour queues for bins @InsideCroydon @suttonguardian @surprise_sutton @Veolia @Govtandpolitics @ruthdombey @JacquesOeuf pic.twitter.com/ZHHlnOEhab
— Nick mattey (@Mrploemic) April 8, 2017
One B&Q employee Amy said it was "carnage" and it was affecting the store "very badly".
Another employee Julie said: "The queue is absolutely tremendous.
"There are about 150 cars parked in our carpark so our customers can’t get in.
"Our staff can’t get in to park.
"They have run out of stock so they’ve had to go to Croydon to get more bins."
Julie said the queue was huge when she arrived at work at 10am this morning and has since got a lot bigger.
She added: "It’s a bit stressful to say the least.
"The customers are getting angry and we are bearing the brunt of it."
Councillor Tony Shields, who was at the scene, said the whole thing was a "cockup".
Describing the queues he said: "It’s absolute and utter chaos.
"It’s a classic example of abject incompetence and underestimation of the job in hand.
"If you set out to fail, you fail."
Cllr Shields said he was one of three councillors who went down to speak to people along with MP Paul Scully and leader of the opposition Tim Crowley.
He added: "The whole thing is a half-baked idea, it is rank incompetence.
"We have paid for the lorries to deliver the bins to properties anyway.
"There were literally 1,500 people queuing- I can’t see how we could have done it worse.
"What a cockup."
Convervative MP Paul Scully said: "I spent two and half hours speaking to frustrated residents stuck in an entirely preventable shambles.
"Some people had been queuing for hours with little information so I did what I could to run between the council, Veolia and B&Q for much needed updates.
"I'd urge the council to look again and act on the obvious shortcomings of this project and for residents to keep an eye on the council website for news."
Deputy leader of the opposition Neil Garrett said: "The key point is that the three other councils in this same waste contract- Croydon, Kingston, Merton- are not implementing yet.
"Sutton has rushed ahead wanting to be first, but they obviously weren't ready. So residents have this chaos."
People have taken to Twitter to voice their frustration.
@suttonguardian just tried 2 get extra bins at b&q 4 free from council. What a joke the que is so long ALL DAY #fedup pic.twitter.com/rvTGRInPGt
— josie,kelly& queenie (@Licksoflondon) April 8, 2017
Queue still long at B&Q. I'd enjoy the sunshine & avoid area if you're after bins. Check council website on Monday #SuttonBinShame pic.twitter.com/ckJyoTrYJj
— Paul Scully MP (@scullyp) April 8, 2017
So we now have Lidgate. #SuttonBinShame https://t.co/eyz43ZDzpf
— tim crowley (@Timmo_Crowley) April 8, 2017
@JacquesOeuf There are now two queues. One for people who are yet to collect bins. One for people who have bins but no lids. #SuttonBinShame
— Ahzaz Chowdhury (@az_c) April 8, 2017
Current scene at B&Q (B and Queue?) in Sutton as angry residents queue for bins. #SuttonBinShame pic.twitter.com/zzYzjz1Hab
— Jacques Oeuf (@JacquesOeuf) April 8, 2017
@Mayor_Sutton pitiful organisation today for recycling bins. Complete underest. of demand and waiting for lorry to empty before resupply!
— TMI (@lbsTMI) April 8, 2017
Pitiful organisation by @SuttonCouncil for the collection of recycling bins. Bringing Sutton Town Centre to a standstill!
— TMI (@lbsTMI) April 8, 2017
@SuttonCouncil @explore_sutton @suttonvoice @suttonguardian @CarshaltonHigh @SuttonMums @MPSSutton @SHP_Sutton The queue at b&q for recycling bins is ridiculous. Total chaos. Incompetence
— Mumtrepreneur (@Mumtrepreneur) April 8, 2017
I hear that the extra free recycling boxes have run out at B&Q in Sutton. Chaos and anger from residents. Shambles. #SuttonBinShame
— Jacques Oeuf (@JacquesOeuf) April 8, 2017
@suttoncouncil perhaps the mayhem in Sutton this morning should tell you you got the recycling bins wrong. Please rethink!
— Diane Wakely (@dianewakely) April 8, 2017
Food waste 2 days sitting in the hot sun and if it's not collected today i have to wait another 6 days not a good start sutton council. pic.twitter.com/BKAjf9FzNR
— colin (@collin15202781) April 8, 2017
@JacquesOeuf I didn't bother getting out of my car. Must have been over 1000 in the queue and I have better things to do on a Saturday #SuttonBinShame
— Smudger (@RobertSSmith66) April 8, 2017
Is it me or does anyone else in London borough of Sutton now need a degree in waste management with all these effing bins😡😡😡
— Km (@MillsDexter) April 8, 2017
This comes just after a controversial refuse and recycling collection scheme was rolled out in the borough.
Sutton Council ended the weekly service and handed responsibility for collections to waste management company Veolia on Saturday, April 1, in a bid to cut £10.3 million from the public purse.
Residents will have to deal with five bins of varying sizes to be collected weekly or fortnightly. Bags left next to or on top of the bins will not be taken.
Veolia, which introduced the scheme in Kingston and Croydon in 2015, said the collections will give Sutton a “more recycling-led service”.
Sutton Council has been approached for comment.
Are you at the scene? Let us know: grainne.cuffe@london.newsquest.co.uk
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