Agenda item

To receive a report from the Head of People, Performance and Waste and the Operations Manager of Street Scene and Open Spaces on the results of the trial collection of pots and pans.

Cabinet had before it a report * from the Head of People, Performance and Waste and the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces on the Waste and Recycling options.

The Leader of the Council outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following: 

• Following on from the recommendation that was made from the Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement Policy Development Group (PDG) in December 2024 and subsequent decision made by Cabinet in January 2025, a trial was conducted between 28 February 2025 and 23 May 2025 to assess both the feasibility of collecting unusable 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 (Willand) involving 453 properties and one in a rural area (Uffculme) involving 346 properties.
• The results of the trial were presented in section 2 with preliminary analysis and conclusions drawn together in section 3.
• The results of the trial confirmed that collecting unusable pots and pans via household recycling routes was operationally feasible and added strategic value to the Council’s services. While engagement was limited, especially over time, small volumes were collected efficiently. This initiative, if permanently introduced as a collection service, could further enhance the Council’s recycling capabilities and environmental reputation; however there would be a minimal effect on the recycling rate if the low tonnage collected during the trial was to continue.
• The trial was useful to understand potential participation rates across the district. It had shown 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 the initial uptake, making it difficult to predict future usage levels across the district. This also highlighted the importance of communication and the need to regularly remind residents of the services and how they could use those services.
• It was important to emphasise that, in line with the waste hierarchy, residents were encouraged to consider what materials they reused and reduced as well as recycled. However, given the ease with which the additional pots and pans could be collected during the trial, the Street Scene Service could collect residents’ pots and pans as an additional collection service if required with very limited or minimal extra associated cost to the Council.
• The trial had given useful operational insight and demonstrated that there was not a consistent demand pattern for the collection of unusable pots and pans across the district. Therefore, it was envisaged that rolling out this provision should be delivered within the current capacity and budget. However, future additional collection materials would need to be appraised based on the understanding that adding pots and pans into the recycling activity would place slight additional pressure on the operation.
• To recommend an additional waste collection material into an already highly effective recycling programme and to look forward to further exploring other additional material over the coming months.

Discussion took place with regards to:

• The specific start date for the permanent future collection of pots and pans to commence. It was suggested that we look to start the collection during the autumn of 2025 (October) to allow the necessary communication and awareness to be carried out in September.
• Whether metal stainless steel mixing bowls without handles would be included within the collection? This would be clarified in the pre-launch communication.
• Similarly, the pre-launch communication would also clarify whether different types of pots and pans e.g. those with non-stick coating would be collected.
• The communication would also stipulate that Teflon pots and pans would not be collected.

  
RESOLVED that:

1. The contents of this report was reviewed and NOTED.

2. The permanent future collection of unwanted metal pots and pans across the district from a specific date in October supported by an effective communications plan and resident correspondence as recommended by the Service Delivery and Continuous Improvement Policy Development Group (PDG) be APPROVED.

(Proposed by Cllr L Taylor and seconded Cllr S Keable)

Reason for Decision:

Based on the findings of the trial, pots and pans being included in the portfolio of materials collected at the kerbside would not incur additional operational costs. There would be minimal financial gain in the form of recycling credits or sales income due to the low tonnage collected.

Note: * report previously circulated.