Agenda item

To receive a report from the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces and the Head of People, Performance and Waste detailing the results of a three month trial collecting unusable metal pots and pans in an area of the District.

The Group had before it a report * from the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces and the Head of People, Performance and Waste detailing the results of a three month trial collecting unusable metal pots and pans in an area of the District.

The following was highlighted within the report:

·       A trial was conducted between the 28th February 2025 and the 23rd May 2025 to assess both the feasibility of collecting pots and pans made of aluminium stainless steel and their subsequent collection rates from households as part of the Council's routine recycling collections.

·       Two separate trials were conducted, one in an urban area in Willand involving 453 properties and one in a rural area, Uffculme, involving 346 properties.

·       The results of the trial confirmed that collecting pots and pans via household recycling routes was operationally feasible, however, engagement had been limited.

·       The trial was useful to understand potential participation rates across the district. It showed that residents initially used the service actively, primarily to dispose of old items. However, usage dropped significantly after the first few collections. This suggested that long term use may be lower than initial uptake, making it difficult to predict future usage levels across the district. This though, did highlight the importance of communication and how the Council needed to regularly remind residents of its services and how residents could use and access those services.

·       The street scene service could collect residents, pots and pans as additional collection services if required with very limited or minimal extra associated cost to the Council and increased recycling should still lead to enhance income through the new EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) scheme.

·       In conclusion, the trials gave a useful operational insight and demonstrated that there was not a consistent demand pattern for the collection of pots and pans across the district. Therefore, it was envisaged that rolling out this provision across the district should be delivered within current capacity, however, future additional collection materials will need to be appraised both on the understanding that adding pots and pans into recycling activity will place a slight additional pressure on the operation.

Discussion took place regarding:

·       A trial regarding the collection of nappies would be considered in the future.

·       The importance of regularly reminding residents what they could and could not recycle.

·       The impact on the recycling centres.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

·       Permanent collections of unusable metal pots and pans are introduced across the District from a specific date supported by an effective communications plan and resident correspondence.

(Proposed by Cllr B Fish and seconded by Cllr C Harrower)

Reason for the decision

This reportidentified with the Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement section of the Corporate Plan for 2024-2028, and in particular 5.2 – We will increase our recycling services, enabling our communities to achieve even higher levels of recycling. Supporting and enabling customers to recycle and reduce residual waste contributed to Mid Devon District Councils’ commitment to the Devon Climate Emergency.

Note: * Report previously circulated.