For those football fans, this is not football related, it’s about our commitment to creating sustainable and thriving neighbourhoods where people want to live.

Earlier this month, Torus Liverpool North Neighbourhoods Team joined up Liverpool City Council and partners to hold a special Community Clean Up Day to help residents on Abingdon Grove, Clubmoor (L4) to get ready for the installation of new community on-street communal Eurobins, commonly seen in more commercial settings, which follow a year of consultations and work to change how waste is collected on the estate.

Torus Neighbourhood Team Leader (Liverpool), Julie Smith, said:

“It is hoped, as in other areas, that the new bins will see an improvement in alleyways cleanliness, increase recycling and reduce fly-tipping.

“We also hope the new bins will address issues around pests and smells that have been reported to us, while leaving footpaths free from bins, which also aids in the reduction of anti-social behaviour (ASB), increasing the sense of safety when walking along the pavements.”

The Eurobins will also help free up much-needed communal areas and save residents the effort of taking their bins down awkward alleyways.

Based out of the new Abingdon Road Community Flat, the event also saw support from local PCSOs and LCC Street Scene, all of whom rolled up their sleeves up and got stuck in, helping residents dispose of any large bulky items and rubbish and resulting in the removal of six 8-tonne skips all filled to the brim, plus filling the HMS cage van four times over and the local scrapman going home very happy.

Liverpool City Council Streetscene Manager, Adrian Devers, added:

“Abingdon Grove has had historical waste and recycling issues for several years which has been compounded by multiple collection points. The introduction of communal bins has corralled waste collections into one place making it easier for tenants and collection teams to access and safer/cleaner to manage.

“Abingdon is the first traditional estate where communal bins have been used previously the communal bin programme has targeted terrace properties, after consultation with residents and officers it was agreed to introduce this collection method, we expect this to be a huge success.

“Torus has taken the lead in this waste collection method, and we expect other housing providers to follow their example in areas where waste management has been problematic.”

The new Eurobins, jointly funded by LCC and Torus, arrived on 29 November. The response has been positive, and this is what some residents had to say about the event and the work Torus has been doing and the new communal bins:

“I am made up, taking the bins in and out each week is not easy.”

“I am really impressed with what the team are doing and their plans for the future.”

“I am looking forward to the Eurobins and I am hoping it will make a difference.”

“With the wheelie bins have gone, we can finally reclaim the rear communal areas of the blocks and make it a safe, secure place for us to use and for the children to be blessed to play out.”

These events continue our ongoing commitment to reconnect and getting back into our communities, with teams from across the Group continuing to get out and about in our communities with Impact Days, Estate Walkabouts and Clean Up Days, find out more here.