Camelot Way, Runcorn, Cheshire

Managed by Onward Homes, Camelot Way is a collection of social housing properties in Runcorn, Cheshire, comprising 62 two-bedroom flats. The group was established in 2018 following the merging of several housing associations, and manages 35,000 properties across Cheshire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Residents of the Camelot Way properties were using unsecured wheelie bins stored around the development in timber bin enclosures. There were a number of issues arising from this type of storage, not least the potential contribution to fire of the timber construction. Positive recycling practice was difficult to achieve from residents and contamination of materials was a regular occurrence, with fly tipping and side waste also often accumulating around the bin stores. With the area surrounded by woodland and plenty of green space, the unsecured waste also attracted local wildlife to a potential food source, with rubbish often scattered around the site as a result.

metroSTOR has been working alongside housing associations to improve waste management for many years, ensuring more positive levels of participation through secure bin storage solutions. In February 2021, installation of 9no. metroSTOR PBM Bin Storage Housings were completed for Halton Housing, a housing provider operating across Runcorn and Widnes in Cheshire. Installed across 3 locations in Runcorn: Company’s Close, Coronation Road and Lavender Close, the success of this project provided Onward Homes with insight into the positive impact and recycling opportunities metroSTOR can provide.

For the residents of Camelot Way, 3no. metroSTOR PBM Bin Storage Housings were installed in total for this new project across 3 locations, with all existing timber bin stores removed as part of project groundworks by the metroSTOR team. Accommodating 3no. 1100L 4-wheeled bins within each housing, large and small bag apertures were integrated into the design of the housings to restrict general waste and ensure only recyclables are deposited.

By storing the residential waste within a secure housing, the new bin stores have helped to secure cleaner recycling from households, with a more consistent collection schedule from waste management crews ensured as a result. The issues around local wildlife, side waste and fly tipping have also seen a marked reduction, with resident feedback highlighting visual improvement of the area.