Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste.

The Environment Policy Development Group made the following recommendations:

1.     To cease collecting side waste from 1 October 2023 and deliver a comprehensive communications programme in advance of this to minimise the need for enforcement.

2.     To postpone the trial scheduled for 2023-2024 to allow for an evaluation of the effectiveness of the current scheme against the metrics of recycling % achieved, residual tonnage reduction, and overall cost to the authority.

Cabinet had before it a report* of the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste which outlined the  effectiveness of the council’s waste and recycling scheme, known as the Bin-it 123 scheme, as implemented in October 2022. It also highlighted the improvement of operational efficiency of collection crews, increased recycling rates and limiting C02 emissions. It also provided a review of recycling frequency following the Cabinet decision on 29 Nov 2022 to complete a weekly recycling trial in the District during the financial year 2023-2024.

The following was highlighted:

• The Council had been flexible with the transition to the ‘Bin it 123’ scheme and that side-waste had been collected, but there was a need to stop collecting side-waste. It was noted that other top performing Authorities had a zero tolerance approach and did not collect side-waste.

• First few months were encouraging and that the recycling rate was just under 60%.

• A weekly recycling pilot was agreed to be undertaken but due to unclear funding and costs it was asked to defer until financially feasible.

The following was discussed:

• Concern was raised over stopping the collection of side-waste and of the length of time it would be left until dealt with. It was also asked how communal refuse points would be managed and how those that left side-waste would be identified. An officer explained that initially households would be contacted but if further breaches continued, Section 46 would be applied. This would be a formal warning that would last for 1 year and could then be escalated further if this warning was breached. 

• The Corporate Manager for People Governance and Waste explained that the Council would not let the District become untidy and that they were asking for residents to comply with the scheme. The Council would ensure that residents had the appropriate containers and bins, it was also about working with residents and landlords, providing support if needed. 

• That statistics and figures should be reported to the Environment PDG to ensure that the Council kept on track.

• That top performing authorities were collecting every 2 weeks, clarification was sought as to why the council was being compared to every 2 week collection models when the Council collected every 3 weeks. The officer explained that these authorities were identified as the top performers and that it was to highlight that none collected side-waste.  

• It was raised that this Council should be compared to authorities that also collected every 3 weeks.  To which the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste agreed that this could be reported to the Environment PDG.

• It was noted that the increased recycling rates should be celebrated, and that recycling pots and pans should also be considered.

• Education on recycling was raised, to which the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste explained that education was important and needed to be continual so that recycling awareness was maintained. In addition, it was also raised that many people learn in different ways and that it was key to find the right medium of communication.

• School education on recycling was raised. To which an officer explained that Schools were already being engaged with.

• It was noted that all had a reasonability to keep wards within the Council clean and tidy.

RESOLVED that:

1.     To cease collecting side waste from 1 October 2023 and deliver a comprehensive communications programme in advance of this to minimise the need for enforcement.

2.     To postpone the trial scheduled for 2023-2024 to allow for an evaluation of the effectiveness of the current scheme against the metrics of recycling % achieved, residual tonnage reduction, and overall cost to the authority.

(Proposed by the Leader, Cllr L Taylor)

Reason for decision:

This report identifies with the ‘Environment’ priority area of the Corporate Plan for 2020- 2024 ‘increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of residual waste generated’. Supporting and enabling customers to recycle and reduce residual waste contributes to Mid Devon District Councils’ commitment to the Devon Climate Emergency.

Note: * Report previously circulated