The ‘Season of (Street) Kindness’ campaign invites residents to share messages of gratitude for waste operatives who face significant challenges, particularly during the winter months and the festive period.
Between November 2023 and October 2024, the council recorded 14 incidents of abuse against waste staff – 10 targeting waste collection crews and four involving street cleansing operatives.
Additionally, there were 20 reported incidents of verbal abuse towards contact centre staff, with one recent case involving a street cleanser being physically attacked and hospitalised.
Despite these challenges, waste operatives continue to go above and beyond, especially in winter, where they face:
- Severe weather, working in rain, snow, and icy temperatures to maintain clean streets.
- Seasonal conditions, such as fallen leaves that require extra time to sweep.
- Overnight gritting, ensuring roads remain safe during freezing conditions.
Cllr Seema Chandwani, Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequality and Resident Services, said:
Our waste operatives work tirelessly every day to keep our borough clean, and a little kindness can make a big difference.
We’re always encouraging residents to share their views and collaborate with us to make Haringey cleaner, and this time, we’re asking them to share kind words of appreciation for our operatives and the vital work they do.
These teams play a crucial role in our community, especially during the busy winter months. It’s unacceptable that they often face abuse while working so hard for all of us.
This campaign is an opportunity for all of us to pause and recognise their dedication and the important work they do every single day.
Residents can participate in the campaign by submitting kind words or messages of appreciation through an online form.
Let’s make this festive season a time to celebrate and support those who work hard to keep Haringey clean and safe – because a little kindness can go a long way.
For more information or to share your message of thanks, click here.
