Agenda item

Current refuse and recycling collection arrangements continue until March 2017. This report proposes that they should be replaced with new, streamlined collections arrangements from April 2017 (exact date to be confirmed).

The Committee received and considered a report concerning the current refuse and recycling arrangements that continue until March 2017 and proposing that they should be replaced with new, streamlined collections arrangements from April 2017, on a date to be confirmed.

The report advised that In June 2015 the Committee was presented with a background report and presentation that advised that the Council now recycled c.45% of its collected household waste compared to the average Surrey councils’ rate of c.52%.  Epsom & Ewell’s rate had remained more or less static since 2009.  Recycling rates were stagnating or declining across Surrey and the whole of the UK and pressure remained to recycle more to save money and help the environment.

The Council’s current refuse and recycling collection arrangements would run until March 2017, at which point vehicle leases would expire and the Council would need to acquire new vehicles.  At that point, ‘Kerbsider’ vehicles (currently used to collect paper, glass, cans and textiles) would no longer be available and therefore, some change would be inevitable.  The Committee must, by October 2015, decide on the future structure of refuse and recycling collections after March 2017 in order that suitable, new vehicles could be be acquired within the replacement of the Council’s overall transport fleet contract, for the provision of services thereafter.  It was recommended that from April 2017 (exact date to be confirmed) the Council should adopt the new, streamlined refuse and recycling collections that officers have called “Weekly Premium Recycling”.

The Committee discussed the proposals when the following points were noted:

·         Textiles would continue to be collected on a weekly basis in line with the current arrangements.

·         The communication plans would include guidance for residents and businesses on the proposed new arrangements for the disposal of refuse and recycling including nappies and glass.

·         The proposals for missed bins were all either equal to or better than the existing return timescales, as well as being much simpler for residents to understand.

·         Weekly refuse collections removed the need for additional domestic refuse capacity except in exceptional circumstances.

·         The removal of paid-for additional refuse bins would mean the loss of c.£5,000 pa in income from such charges.  However, the constraint of refuse capacity would be an important part of ensuring that valuable recycling was maximised and costly refuse minimised.

·         Subject to approval of the proposals, communication with residents and businesses would commence shortly including road shows, attendance at resident’s meetings, press releases, distribution of leaflets and information on the Council’s website.

Accordingly, it was agreed that:-

(1)          From April 2017 (exact date to be confirmed) the Council should adopt the new refuse and recycling collections structure that officers have called ‘Weekly Premium Recycling’, as outlined in Annexe 1 to the report.

(2)          ‘Weekly Premium Recycling’ should be launched in phases:

a)    Officers be authorised to enter into negotiations with the Council’s transport fleet provider for the temporary, short-term extension of some existing vehicles to facilitate this, and that Contract Standing Orders be waived to enable this on the grounds as set out in CSO 23.1 (i) and (j).

b)    Detailed launch and communications plans, timings and funding requirement be presented to the Committee at a future date.

(3)          With the launch of ‘Weekly Premium Recycling’:

a)    Green and black bins are switched i.e. green 240-litre bin becomes for recycling; black 180-litre bin becomes for refuse and that detailed operational plans and funding requirement be presented to the Committee at a future date.

b)    Lost, stolen or damaged black 180-litre refuse bins are replaced with 140-litre versions, funded from within existing annual bin replacement budgets.

c)    The Council’s missed bin return timescales are rationalised i.e.:

i)     No return for missed weekly collections of dry recycling or refuse (2 sacks of excess refuse collected on next collection, no limit to excess recycling).

ii)    Retention of the existing two-working-day return for missed food and garden waste recycling.

d)    The Council’s policy on additional refuse bins at houses be amended i.e.:

i)     A free black 240-litre refuse bin in replacement of the black 180-litre bin, available to households of 10 or more on request, subject to an officer visit to confirm need and establish the proper use of recycling services.

ii)    Removal of the existing option of charged, additional refuse bins.

iii)   Maximum one refuse bin per house, with no refuse bin larger than 180-litres unless agreed as above.