Agenda item

This report sets out the expectations of the new waste, recycling, and street cleansing contract. It then discusses contract performance and details upcoming service changes taking place.

WASTE COLLECTION

Annie Baker (Assistant Director – street environmental services) provided a presentation which covered the new household waste collection contract, as well as the implementation of  wheeled bin and food waste collection.

The presentation covered the following aspects:

·       The background to the new waste contact and the procurement process.

·       The benefits of the new contract which included:

1.    Increased recycling rates.

2.    Improved street cleansing (in particular fly tipping and weeding).

3.    Enhanced performance management (including a new digital management information system).

4.    Supporting climate objectives (aiming to achieve net zero and the flexibility to procure the right types of vehicles as technology developed within the lifetime of the contract).

5.    Providing improved social value outcomes.

·       Performance to date (including missed collections data, noting that the contract began 9 months ago).

·       Performance – Street Cleaning, including:

1.    Weeding – increase in activity and significant reduction in reports of issues.

2.    Litter and detritus –above expected standards.

3.    Fly-tip clearance –over two-thirds cleared within 24 hours and further improvement expected.

·       Delivering New Services.

·       New Service : Implementation.

·       The roll – out so far and the next steps.

Councillor Jackie Borland asked if waste collection vehicles were able to collect various sizes of waste bin. In response, Annie Baker confirmed that several sizes of bins had been tested on vehicle hoists and these were safe to collect. Councillor Jackie Borland welcomed the improvements to recycling and asked if some statistics could be cited to underline the improved performance. In response, Annie Baker confirmed that in general terms, food waste was a significant contributor to increased recycling rates, there was increased recycling and the smaller recycling bins meant it was now easier to recycle. Annie Baker confirmed that detailed performance figures could be provided to the Committee.

Action – That Annie Baker provide the Committee with performance statistic in relation to improved recycling rates

Councillor Jackie Borland commented that the suitability of bins had been mentioned by residents, and asked what happened if a resident felt the bin was not suitable for their needs. Could the bin be refused? In response, Annie Baker confirmed that everyone’s front garden was different and the use of it varied. During the prototype trials, it was found that when officers worked with residents and used either smaller bins or residents shared a bin, usually a solution was found. However, if bins caused access issues to bike storage or obscured floral displays then bins would not be delivered to those residents which opted out. Mark Raisbeck(Director of Public Realm) added that having delivered about a thousand bins per week, there were only two or three instances where the Council was having challenging conversations to reach a compromise. It was noted that the Council was working through a period of encouragement and engagement rather than dictat and was also providing an assisted collection service.

Councillor Liz Collins commented that overall, her constituents were happy about the bin roll-out. However, there had been a number of mis-collections which had resulted in fines being issued. And in those cases of non-collection, this had attracted other residents to place their rubbish at these sites, so the problem had worsened. In response, Annie Baker asked Councillor Liz Collins to provide her with details outside the meeting, so that if there was an ongoing issue it could be investigated and addressed.

Councillor Ashok Patel raised the issue of bins not being returned to their collection points which highlighted those properties which were vacant and hence at risk of burglary. In response, Annie Baker confirmed that in all cases, bins should be returned to their collection point.

Councillor Adam Peter Lang felt that the messaging could be improved when there were issues with bin collections. He was aware that some residents were unclear who to contact and whether it was Veolia, the bin collectors or the Council. Annie Baker confirmed that in all cases, the Council should be contacted. There was a report app and email address that should be used. Councillor Lang also asked if the Council was confident there were sufficient Veolia staff to implement the contract. Annie Baker stated she was confident there were sufficient staff in place. Mark Raisbeck commented there was a detailed mobilization plan for the roll-out which included extra resources and took into account that additional communications would be needed about the new bins and the new collection regime.  He also confirmed that a new resident pack was being developed to centralise the key information all residents required. He explained that if recurrent problems remained, he would welcome feedback from Councillors so that these issues could be addressed.

In relation to weeding and not using chemicals, Councillor Adam Peter Lang asked if officers were confident there was sufficient manpower in place to conduct this effectively. In response,  Annie Baker provided details of how the contract worked,  made reference to the impacts of climate change and confirmed it would be reviewed annually.

Councillor Rory Vaughan commented on the reporting of mis-collections and noted there had been a spike of these in September and October 2023, but that performance had improved again.

At the invitation of the Chair, a representative of the Brackenbury Resident’s Association addressed the Committee. He raised a number of points including: the suitability of some homes for bins (and those not),  insufficient communications from the Council about the bin roll-out and concerns that wheeled bins would be forced upon residents irrespective of their suitability. Further points included: special consideration needed to be given to multiple occupation residences where elderly or infirm residents could not use the bins and that residents should be given the option of opting into the scheme. In response, Annie Baker acknowledged that not all properties would be suitable, or had space for the bins. Details of the roll-out and the anticipated improvements to the service were provided. She explained the Council would be in the Brackenbury area in the Spring of 2024, would write to residents in advance and welcomed the opportunity to meet with residents to discuss aspects of the roll out.

A resident asked a further question about the opt out or opt in nature of the scheme and whether it was the Council or the residents themselves which made the decision. Further questions related to the disposal of green and food waste and how this might be actioned in the most ecological way to reduce transport distances. In response, Annie Baker reiterated that officers would be willing to attend an organised meeting to discuss these concerns further.

The Chair, Councillor Rory Vaughan provided his personal feedback on the scheme, explaining that he had recently received his bin and the scheme had worked well. He asked if there would be any form of sampling or auditing of bin collections to ensure how these were working and to check if bins had been returned to their collection point. In response, Annie Baker confirmed that monitoring was routinely undertaken, but in addition, that officers were conducting further checks while the roll out bedded in. The Chair asked about the plans in relation to garden waste, noting that this was probably an April to September / October initiative. In response, officers confirmed that this was being investigated and would hopefully be implemented in 2024.

Councillor Jackie Borland asked how the recycling scheme and delivery of sacks would work in Fulham. In response, Annie Baker confirmed that the Council was maintaining records as the scheme progressed and for those homes that did not have space for the bins, they would receive the food waste collections and sack collections would continue as before.

Closing the item, the Chair welcomed the progress which had been made as well as the offer to work with Brackenbury residents. He noted that food waste collections had recently started, and the Committee looked forward to hearing the feedback about the roll-out and how recycling would improve as a result. The Committee would be watchful of the metrics the new initiatives generated and in particular, the cleaner streets and less street cleaning when the results were known in about 6-months’ time.

Resolved

1.  That the Committee both note and comment on the report.