Community skip day for eco-friendly residents helps the community and environment

L&Q together with partner Axis Europe hosted a successful Community Skip Day in Lewisham.

Residents were encouraged to bring their unwanted items to be disposed of sustainably, supported by environmental services company Enva and a caged lorry provided by Chequers. 

The event was held to reduce the impact of waste, assist residents with the removal of bulky items and help clean up the surrounding area.

There was great feedback from residents, many of whom asked when the next event would be held.

Resident Terry, of Shilford Pass, said:

“They are doing a great job at the site and cleaning the whole estate really well. The staff are really nice too.”

Another resident said: “Fly-tipping is a problem on the estate, so this event is great to see.”

And another added: “We are relieved to get rid of items that we cannot afford to take to the local refuse centre.”

In total, more than four metric tonnes of waste were removed from the L&Q estate around Shifford Path, Perry Vale, Lewisham. Three trips were made to take waste to Croydon Refuse Centre.

Waste included floor coverings, sofas, old kitchen parts, cupboards and upholstery that were taken away. Three vulnerable residents also had their rear gardens cleared of bulky refuse items.

An assortment of books was also salvaged, which are now being stored in a communal area for other residents to read.

While some items could not go in the skip, Enva committed to 100% of the waste being diverted from landfill.

Daisy Foster‑Chambers, Sustainability Coordinator at Axis, said:

“The skip day was a big hit with residents and the wider area. There was a real sense of community and people were so pleased to see the different organisations coming together to help with the things that matter to them. A big thank you to everyone for their help. We did brilliantly  with over four tonnes of waste being collected and disposed of.”

Mark Newstead, Director of Major Programmes at L&Q, said:

“At L&Q we are committed to investing in the safety, quality, and comfort of our residents’ homes, working with partners like Axis Europe. However, our partnerships are about more than the homes themselves and make a real impact on the communities we serve.

This event showed the strength of collaboration and the positive change it can bring to creating cleaner, greener communities. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring people together and encourage sustainability.”

Axis Europe is one of ten partners working with L&Q on its Major Works Investment Programme.

This will see us invest around £3bn over 15 years to improve the safety, comfort, and environmental performance of residents’ homes.

Beyond improving homes, the partnership includes social value commitments to create a lasting impact in the communities where we operate.