Agenda item
Waste and Street Cleansing Review - Waste Collection Implementation
This report updates on progress with respect to the One Council Waste and Street Cleansing Review, in particular implementing and communicating the waste collection changes that are to be implemented as part of that project.
Minutes:
Chris Whyte (Head of Environment Management, Environment and Management Services) introduced this item and updated Members on the progress of implementing the new arrangements for the waste collection service. The committee heard that the issuing of new bins was now in its second week, with most households receiving larger 240 litre bins, although smaller ones were being issued where there was insufficient space. In addition, around 30,000 homes were being provided with food waste bins. The issuing of new bins was slightly ahead of schedule and was due for completion in two weeks. Four to five distribution crews were issuing on average around 1,000 new bins per crew each day. There was also a crew dedicated to providing bins to properties that had been missed and they were operating on a twice weekly basis. Chris Whyte confirmed that the new waste collection service would commence on 3 October. In the meantime, additional temporary staff had been recruited at the Call Centre to answer queries from residents about the new service and there was also an e-mail address they could send their questions or comments to. Overall, the feedback from residents received to date was largely positive and they understood what changes were being made and the reasons why. The main concern that had been raised was that some residents felt that the bin provided was too large and officers were visiting these properties to assess what bin size would be most appropriate.
David Pietropaoli (Waste Policy Manger, Environment and Neighbourhood Services) then provided details of the communications and community engagement plan to support the household waste collection strategy. He explained that that there were three phases to the plan, with the first phase being a ‘teaser campaign’ over the summer which sought to change residents’ expectations and to prepare them for the change in service on 3 October, whilst reassuring them the current arrangements would remain in the place up until then. Articles were appearing in the Brent Magazine and its Green Pages section and leaflets. Phase two of the plan involved the first stage of the aim communications campaign starting in September and would include information on the new waste collection arrangements in greater detail, again through articles in the Brent Magazine, its Green Pages section, and distribution of a 12 page explanatory leaflet and a colour-coded collection calendar. A Frequency Asked Questions section based on type of property was also available on the council’s website. David Pietropaoli added that there was also various intranet articles for staff and e-mails sent to councillors explaining the changes. Phase two of the main communications campaign would commence in June 2012.
During Members’ discussion, Councillor Beckman enquired whether clear sacks were provided in respect of battery recycling. Councillor Mitchell Murray suggested that the leaflets remind residents that the council offered a free bulky waste removal service, whilst the disused grey bins could be put to other useful means such as collecting rain water to use in the drier summer months. She also enquired whether the green boxes that were no longer to be used would be offered to other organisations such as schools and what were the arrangements in respect of nappy disposal. Councillor Harrison sought clarification with regard to colour of bins and suggested that stickers be placed on them explaining what materials could be deposited. Councillor Sheth commented that other London boroughs that had introduced fortnightly waste collections had experienced problems such as litter build up and an increase in fly tipping. He asked if the council had considered such implications and were there were additional resources to address these.
Councillor Lorber commented that there was a large population turnover in Brent with a significant proportion of rented accommodation and therefore if information about the new waste collections arrangements was only provided when the new service started, those who moved to the borough later may be confused as to what the arrangements were. He suggested that labelling the green bins to clearly state what could be put in them would therefore be a worthwhile investment. Councillor Lorber asked what proportion of residents’ waste collection day would change under the new arrangements. He sought clarification with regard to replacing bins after collection and cited an example of his own bins being replaced inappropriately on consecutive occasions. It was suggested that refuse collection crew members be given clear instructions with regard to replacing bins and it was emphasised that the bins be replaced with due consideration to residents in order to gain their support. Councillor Lorber suggested that a one-off exercise be undertaken by refuse crew to empty bins that contained waste that should not be in them as there were a number of bins that were overflowing and had not been emptied for a long period. He observed that there were a number of households that had acquired additional grey refuse bins and he suggested that efforts should be made to retrieve these to encourage recycling. Councillor Lorber also suggested arrangements should be put in place to allow recycling of small electrical appliances as residents were unlikely to be willing to travel to collection points to deposit them.
The Chair commented that residents seemed happy with the new bins to date and he had only received a few comments in respect of the bins being excessive in size and a query with regard to arrangements for disposal of glass. He also enquired whether the bin collection service in respect of residents with disabilities and older persons would continue.
In reply to the issues raised, Chris Whyte advised that in some areas, the landfill bins were green as opposed to grey, however this was clarified in the leaflet and queries would be responded to on a case by case basis. He acknowledged that bins could be labelled if deemed necessary. Members heard that some properties’ refuse collection day would change under the new arrangements, however every effort had been made during the planning stages to minimise this. Every household would receive a collection calendar clearly showing on what day their waste would be collected. Chris Whyte explained that the Veolia crews were instructed to collect bins from where they could reasonably see it and replace it within the curtilage of the property and these had been the requirements since the beginning of the contract. He acknowledged the concerns expressed by Councillor Lorber and informed Members that crew members had been instructed not to replace bins in a hazardous location or to be blocking access, however the individual operatives concerned would be approached where a problem had been bought to officers’ attention. It was confirmed that the bin collection service in respect of residents with disabilities and older people would continue for those who had registered for this service.
Chris Whyte advised that contamination rounds were undertaken every Friday in respect of recycling bins that also contained landfill waste, however he stressed that educating residents about what can be recycled still needed to be undertaken and refuse crews were leaving information with residents where this had been a problem. The cost of clearing all overflowing bins with mixed waste was likely to be excessive. Members noted that no more grey non-recycling bins were now being provided by the council and it was felt that as the rate of recycling increased over time, the number of grey bins would steadily reduce. Chris Whyte acknowledged that other local authorities had experienced problems when introducing fortnightly collections and phase two of the scheme would attempt to address such concerns as promptly and as effectively as possible. Additional resources had been provided for the Call Centre to handle queries during the changes and Members noted that the saving targets were net of all costs expected. The leaflets distributed to residents included suggestions for alternative uses for green boxes and some may be recovered at a later stage. Chris Whyte confirmed that nappies had to be placed in the non-recycling bins as there was no recycling provision at present. There was also no recycling provision for small electrical appliances and these still needed to be taken to collection points, and although being able to recycle these products would be desirable, attention needed to be focused on materials that could be recycled in large quantities.
David Pietropaoli added electrical appliances often contained hazardous materials which made recycling more difficult and he was not aware of any local authority that offered kerbside collection of these items. However, consideration of expanding collection sites could be considered in future. He also advised that grey bins had been removed where it had been deemed that there was insufficient space, particularly in respect of properties containing more than one household where liaison with residents would take place to seek the removal of bins.
The Chair thanked the presenters and felt that the suggestions in respect of labelling bins could be worthwhile exploring further.
RESOLVED:-
that the report on waste and street cleansing review - waste collection implementation be noted.
Supporting documents:
- waste-street-cleansing-report, item 4. PDF 780 KB
- waste-street-cleansing-appendix, item 4. PDF 793 KB