Agenda item
Waste Collection Review
- Meeting of Communities, Transport and Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel, Monday, 16th July, 2018 4.30 pm (Item 23.)
- View the background to item 23.
There will be a presentation on this item at the meeting.
Minutes:
The Team Manager, Strategy & Contracts gave a presentation to the Panel, a copy of which can be found online as an appendix to these minutes or on the Panel’s Minute Book. A summary is set out below.
What Changed?
• 57,600 households received 140 litre bins / 3,200 households issued larger 240 litre bins
• 10,500 received 140 litre reusable rubbish bags (fortnightly) / 6,360 received 70 litre reusable rubbish bag (weekly)
• 1,350 properties on weekly black sack collection (city centre and small proportion bin rooms) / 5,000 households serviced by bulk communal bins
• Recycling Service in-house
Why did we make these changes?
• To keep our streets cleaner
• To recycle more
• To save money
Background – Service model
• Extensive benchmarking & research into recycling performance and waste collection services offered by other local authorities
• Financial assessments into 5 alternative collection models, narrowed down to 2 that met 3 key objectives.
Changes requested during planning
• Increase in the number of properties eligible for a weekly collection service from the original modelling
• Increase in the amnesty period for the collection of side waste extended from 4 weeks to 12 weeks / Increased education during extended amnesty period.
Implementation
• Letters sent with Council Tax bills in March 2017 to advise of bin/bag allocation and asking residents to get in touch if they had concerns.
• From May – October 2017 Waste Doctor visits to residents who felt their property was unsuitable for wheeled bins or those requesting bigger bins. Hundreds of visits and telephone consultations undertaken.
• The Council’s recycling service brought in-house on 9th September 2017. 85 staff were TUPE’d across from Kier to B&NES council, along with plant, equipment and offices
• The new service began on 6th November 2017
Publicity
• An extensive communications plan “Together we can all make a difference” was implemented including a proactive campaign to encourage people to recycle more
• 106 Roadshow events & community group talks / Over 5000 people reached though face to face contact / 42,000 new recycling containers ordered
• Waste doctors visited 491 properties to discuss personal arrangements
Education & Enforcement
• Two temporary waste awareness officers employed
• Since stopping side waste: 539 properties visited / 181 education letters issued / 665 Breech Notices issued / 8 intent to serves issued
• Many of the bags being dumped were found to be commercial waste being passed off as domestic
• 9 Business issued with warning notice / 2 FPN’s issues for business leaving black sacks by litter bins / 80 new business waste customers
Key Objective – Achieve Financial Savings
• End of the DCLG grant of £450K per annum to retain weekly black sack collections
• 18/19 Budget has been reduced by £450K to reflect this
Key Objective – Increase Recycling
2016/17 tonnes 2017/18 tonnes Difference
Kerbside Recycling 17,975 20,099 +2,124
Food (included above) 4,153 5,323 +1,170
Domestic waste 27,815 23,311 -4,504
collected
April/May 2017 April/May 2018 Difference
Kerbside Recycling 2,832 3,676 +29.8%
Food (included above) 708 1,154 +62.9%
Domestic waste 4,426 3,250 -36%
collected
Next Steps
• Work with Curo to resolve issues with bin stores and increase recycling provision
• Review of rounds to rebalance routes – day changes communicated with residents effected
• Continued review of streets where collection crews and residents are requesting change to wheeled bins
• Continue to review service operating models and the impact in any changes in legislation
• Update the Councils waste strategy
Councillor Brian Simmons asked if she had noticed that some street litter bins were being filled quicker than normal by people using them to deposit their household waste.
The Team Manager, Strategy & Contracts replied that this was already an issue in some areas prior to the changes and remains an ongoing issue.
Councillor Simmons commented that he believed that the Curo property St. John’s Court was not using the gull proof bags it had been supplied with.
The Team Manager, Strategy & Contracts replied that she would look into it and contact Curo.
Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones asked who was responsible if fly tipping occurred on Curo land.
The Team Manager, Strategy & Contracts replied that it was Curo’s responsibility, but the Council is working with them to provide support.
The Chairman thanked her for her presentation on behalf of the Panel.