Agenda item
Update on initiatives to reduce barriers and increase recycling in flats and flats and above shops
This report provides clarification of the council’s recycling service, current challenges with regards to increasing recycling and what steps are being taken to develop the best possible recycling service for our residents
Minutes:
At the invitation of the Chair, Councillor Krupa Sheth (Lead Member for Environment) introduced the report updating members on the initiatives to reduce barriers and increase recycling in flats, advising that Kelly Eaton (Policy, Projects and Support Manager) was in attendance to help address the committee’s queries. Kelly Eaton highlighted that over 50 per cent of Brent’s housing stock was flats and the council worked proactively and creatively, seeking ways to support and achieve better levels of recycling in these properties. Summarising the activities undertaken, Kelly Eaton explained that a large project continued with the Education Team of Veolia, the council’s public realm contractor, which reduced the proportion of general waste bins in flats and increased the number of recycling bins. It had been found that this helped to reduce the amount of contamination of recycling waste, though this remained a key issue for these communal bins. Recycling and waste collection for flats above shops took place twice a day, seven days a week and these residents were no able to collect free recycling bags from libraries. The council was also examining ways of managing food waste flats – as all flats in Brent were now provided with facilities for recycling and recycling separate food waste.
In the subsequent discussion, members welcomed leaflets helping residents to understand what could and couldn’t be recycled but noted that this information needed to be available at the point of use in a very simple and accessible way either on or near the recycling bins. Clarification was sought on the contamination of recycling waste, noting that residents had expressed confusion about why some loads were not collected. The committee further questioned how the assessment was made that recycling matter was being placed in the general waste bins. Turning the discussion to flats above shops, members highlighted the issue of unsightly bags placed haphazardly on pavements for collection, often insufficiently secured, causing spillages. A further query was raised regarding the turnover of tenants in these premises and the difficulties this caused for the work of Veolia’s Education Team. In concluding their questioning members sought an overview of the work undertaken with Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) landlord licensing and estate agents to ensure that responsibilities around recycling were communicated to all new tenants. Suggestions were made regarding ways to better communicate and make available information on recycling in Brent including the provision of information on fridge magnets and posters for flats rented out by landlords. A member also noted that the letting website, Zoopla, also provided policy documents for an area if made available to them.
Kelly Eaton responded to the issues and questions raised. Members were informed that where contamination was a frequent issue for particular blocks of flats, the information provided to those residents would be tailored to the specific circumstances. Whilst this did include visits to individual flats, posters would also be provided in the bin sheds to identify what could and could not be recycled. Residents would also be informed of the recyclapedia app available. With regard to contamination, one small item would not condemn a whole collection. If following a brief visual inspection, there was deemed to be so much non-recyclable material in a collection to cause it to be rejected, a bin tag should be left to identify why it had not been collected and the refuse collection team should be notified to collect the bin in the following rounds. Whilst this was the expected process, it was acknowledged that this did not always proceed as smoothly as intended and members were encouraged to share any information from residents where this did not happen. Officers assessing whether recycling material was just being placed in general waste bins did so by looking at the volume of waste. It was known that approximately 70 per cent of household waste could be recycled and it was therefore reasonable to expect similar proportions of recycling to general waste in the communal bins.
Kelly Eaton advised that residents were informed that robust black bags with tie handles needed to be used for general refuse to prevent spillages. This formed part of the ‘Love where you live’ campaign and it was hoped that there may be a decline in these issues as information continued to be made available to residents.
Commenting on the issue of frequent turnover of tenants in some types of properties, Kelly Eaton welcomed members’ suggestions and confirmed that a trial had previously been run whereby the council worked with estate agents to identify those new to the borough. The Neighbourhood Manager for Willesden Green was looking into repeating this trial. Members further heard that as a condition of landlord licensing, landlords were responsible for informing residents of the correct methods of disposal. There was close working with the licensing team to share information about related issues. A key issue for HMOs was insufficient garden/outdoor space to accommodate the waste for the number of residents at the property but unfortunately, there was little that could be done about that particular issue.
The Chair thanked the officers and members for their contribution to the discussion.
Supporting documents: