Agenda item

(To receive a report by Matthew Michell, LCC Waste Strategy Manager, which provides the Partnership with an update on the suite of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) which measure progress against the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy)

The Partnership received a report and presentation from the LCC Waste Strategy Manager which provided an update on the suite of Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) which measure progress against the vision and objectives set out in the LWP’s Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (JMWMS).  The KPI’s related to four strategic themes:

-       Waste Hierarchy – how we are prioritising waste minimisation and recycling

-       Contamination – recycling contamination rate (kerbside recyclables)

-       Carbon – overall LWP waste management carbon footprint (per head)

-       Customer friendly – satisfaction with waste collections/HWRC’s

The report reflected that whilst Covid-related restrictions were gradually being lifted, waste was still being received in different quantities and composition to pre-Covid, particularly in reduced throughput at Household Waste Recycling Centres.  It was still not clear how much of that Covid impact was temporary, and to what extent authorities were now seeing a “new normal” (e.g. more working from home) which may continue in the longer term.

Partners were provided with the opportunity to ask questions in relation to the information contained within the report, and some of the points highlighted during discussion included the following:

·       In relation to sampling of residual waste, it would be interesting to see how much recyclable material did end up in the waste stream.

·       Education was essential in encouraging recycling. It was noted that this was something which had been identified and there was a need to be a bit more proactive with how messages are communications to younger people and schools. Partners were advised that information packs would be distributed to primary schools and officers would be visiting schools to talk about waste.

·       It was suggested that contamination levels had dropped following the introduction of twin stream recycling due to bins not being emptied if they contained material other than paper and card, and this was then leading to increased fly tipping in some areas.

·       There had been concerns about people in urban areas needing to have three bins for the twin stream collections.  Officers advised that it was the responsibility of individuals to try and abide by the rules which were set.  There was a need to take a collaborative approach and engage with the public regarding the rules and requirements.

·       Complaints were being received from some residents about additional cardboard and side waste not being collected.  If residents did have an excessive amount of cardboard or cardboard which did not fit in the purple lidded bin, they were encouraged to take it to the Household Waste Recycling Centre.  It was not possible to collect side waste as once it became wet, it was not able to be processed and it would become contamination.

·       It was acknowledged that there had been an increase in fly tipping over the past two years, and this had led to the development of the environmental crime partnership, and it had been recognised by government as a national problem.  However, it was emphasised that it was not believed that this material was being discarded by households, and there was a lot of evidence to show that the increase was due to businesses/individuals who were charging a fee to people to dispose of their waste, and then disposing of it as fly tipping.  There was a duty of care for households to ensure that it was a reputable firm who was collecting and disposing of waste.

·       It was commented that one cause of contamination in bins in Boston was people disposing of takeaway packaging in other people’s bins.

·       West Lindsey District Council was looking forward to the introduction of the purple lidded bins and had received a very good presentation recently regarding the planned roll out.  It was acknowledged that there were some sections of the population that were reluctant to embrace change.

·       In was noted that West Lindsey District Council had given consideration to include a three month bulky waste collection, but had concluded that there was no evidence that providing this service would reduce fly tipping.

·       It was commented that a lot of the work around recycling needed to be member led, and members should be engaging with their communities to try and resolve any issues.  The roll out of the separate paper and card collections also needed to be member led.

RESOLVED

That the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership:

1.    Notes the charts and commentary provided in relation to Waste Hierarchy.

2.    Notes the improved performance in twin-stream areas in relation to Contamination.

3.    Notes that work has now resumed in relation to Carbon.

4.    Notes the comments set out in the report in relation to Customer Friendliness.