Review of the Borough of Poole S Waste Strategy

BOROUGH OF POOLE

SERVICE PROVISION SCRUTINY AND AUDIT COMMITTEE

13 SEPTEMBER 2007

REVIEW OF THE BOROUGH OF POOLE’S WASTE STRATEGY

PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN : YES

1.0Purpose & Policy Context of Report

1.1 This report sets out the Council’s performance in respect of its current waste strategy published in 2002

2.0Background

2.1On the 30th July 2002 full council agreed the Waste Strategy for the Borough Of Poole. The strategy clearly described how it was to meet the Boroughs need to limit further its reliance on landfill as a disposal option and to further enhance waste minimisation in line with the national waste strategy 2000.

2.2Contained within the strategy document was a requirement for the strategy to be formally reviewed after a five year period to ensure the challenges facing the authority in relation to waste were being met.

2.3 In 2006/7 the Borough of Poole generated 78,856 tonnes of household waste of which 27,331 tonnes is recycled / composted waste. This equates to a combined recycling / composting rate of 34.6%. At the time the waste strategy was agreed in 2002/03 Poole generated 81,069 tonnes of household waste of which 15,202 tonnes was recycled which equated to a combined recycling / composting rate of 18.7%. In the first quarter of 2007/08 the Borough’s recycling rate was 40 %.

3.0 Review of Strategic Aims and Performance

3.1The key deliverable elements of the current waste strategy are described below as per the executive summary of the strategy. Each deliverable is reviewed, actions taken are described and where appropriate, performance in 2002 and performance now is reported. The following table provides an executive summary.

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Summary - Review of The Borough Of Poole’s Waste Strategy 2002

• Pride in Poole initiative introduced 2003
• Partnership with Dorset Reclaim introduced 2006

• 8,480 home composters introduced since 2002
• 80% of collected items by Dorset Reclaim reused or recycled
• 2.6% increase in Kg of waste per head of population since 2003/04 versus 8% National increase

• Partnership established with Waste Resources Action Programme until 2008
• More than 50 promotional events attended to encourage home composting.

• Serviced a 5% increase in residential properties 5 years
• Ninth collection round added in 2003

• 100% of residential properties receive a fortnightly recycling collection.
• Blue Bin Recycling now accounts for circa 13,855 tonnes of Poole’s waste as apposed to 1,743 tonnes in 2001

• Participation in the Blue Bin Scheme is 98%
• Recycling rate has risen from 18% in 2002/3 to 34.6% in 2006/7
• Blue Bin Recycling now accounts for circa 13,855 tonnes of Poole’s waste as apposed to 1,743 tonnes in 2001

• 22 Specialist recycling bring banks are in operation within the Borough.
• WEEE was formally introduced 1st July 2007.

• 172 tonnes of waste collected per annum, 0.9% of all waste recycled.

• Glass now collected at kerbside in blue wheeled bin along with four other items, Paper, tin, cardboard and plastic.

• See Blue bin scheme above.

• Waste transfer station opened 2004.
• As of 1st April 2007, 22,000 properties have received a 240 litre wheeled bin garden waste collection service
• Green waste is processed at the Eco composting facility at Hurn
• Green waste banned from black bins in area served.

• During first 6 months of the scheme in 2006, 2014 tonnes of green waste was collected equating to 31% of all green household waste sent for composting in 2006

• Sand, wood , MDF, tyres and mixed metals are al now segregated at the Nuffield Household Recycling Centre

• 240 tonnes of sand returned to Poole’s beaches in place of landfill.
• 3,400 tonnes of wood and MDF processed by local composting plant

• The Civic Amenity Site is open 362 days a year from 08:30 – 16:30
• The site currently visited. approximately 265,816 times a year by Poole residents.

• Civic Amenity Site is regularly achieving a recycling rate in excess of 70%
• Best Value Satisfaction Survey (BV90c) reported satisfaction with site to be 78%.

• Request to carryout a feasibility study of developing an MRF at Hatch Pond Road commenced. Supported by Cabinet 4th September 2007

• Business Case to be developed further by 31/3/2007

• 20 year Contract to ensure against landfill penalties signed 2006
• Use of Energy from Waste Technology in combination with recycling and landfill to meet landfill targets.

• 2006/07 landfill targets exceed. Poole currently has in excess of 10,000 permits “banked” to support performance in 2007/08 and 2008/09.

• Dorset County Council residents have permit access to use Nuffield Household Recycling Centre.
• Bournemouth Borough Council use of Waste Transfer Station for dry recyclate transfer to MRF.

• 14,318 visits made by Dorset residents in first year of scheme.
• 19,000 tonnes of recyclable waste from Bournemouth passing through site.

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4.0Continued extended promotion and encouragement of waste minimisation and reduction through the Waste Watchers Campaign.

4.1The Waste Watchers Campaign came naturally to an end and was replaced by the Pride In Poole initiative in early 2003. In relation to waste minimisation the main theme of this campaign has been the promotion of home composters, the use of which contributes to a reduction in the amount of waste collected. 8,480 have been sold since the year 2002. In 2006 a the partnership with Dorset Reclaim which enables the reuse of household items was agreed. Work to date suggests that up to 80% of all items collected are put to reuse, thus reducing waste to landfill.

4.2The amount of waste produced per head of population is measured by a Best Value Performance Indicator – BV84. The definition of Household waste changed in 2003/4 when the total number of kilograms of waste per head of population was 557.6kg. In 2006/7 the total number kilograms of waste per head of the population was 572.6kg which equates to a 2.6% increase in household waste arising in four years. Nationally the increase in household waste arisings has been 2% per annum which equates to an 8% national increase over the same period.

5.0On going promotion of home composting and the provision of low cost composters in partnership with the private sector.

5.1Initially a partnership was established between the Dorset Recycling and Reduction Group (DRRG) and two private sector suppliers, however since January 2005 this arrangement has been replaced by a partnership between the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the DRRG. This has resulted 8,480 since 2002. 11,700 composters have now been supplied to Poole homes in total. This equates to 18% of households in the Borough, though it is recognised that some homes may have more than 1 and some homes may have replaced damaged composters during this period. However this maybe counter balanced by independent purchases outside of the scheme. The current scheme is scheduled to continue until December 2008.

5.2Home composting is not currently recognised within local authority waste data. The only measure made is the number of composters supplied. As stated in paragraph 4 above composting is an essential element of waste minimisation.

5.3The promotion of home compost bins has been given a high profile and since 2002 over 50 events have been attended many of which have also been supported by compost scheme partners WRAP.

5.4The current subsidised scheme is provided at no cost to the Borough of Poole.

6.0Maintain weekly collection of household waste using wheeled bins.

6.1Although Poole’s resident population has remained relatively static over several years and currently stands at 137,100 the number of residential properties has significantly increased from 61,623 in 2001 to 64,581 in 2006, a 5% increase. Weekly collections have been maintained and a ninth round was added in 2003 to guarantee required levels of productivity.

6.2Due to the continued increase in the number of properties the medium term financial plan includes provision for a further round in 2008/2009. Analysis is currently being undertaken to determine whether round rebalancing can enable the delay of this extra round until 2009/2010.

6.3Satisfaction with refuse collection provided by the borough as measured by the recent Best Value Survey (BV90a) is 93%. The highest of any authority in Dorset. The number of bins missed during collection per 100,000 collected has reduced from 33 in 2002/3 to 18 in 2006/2007. The current target is 30.

7.0Expanding the fortnightly kerbside scheme using a 140 litre wheeled bin collection system for co-mingled dry recyclables throughout the borough. Examine the feasibility of exchanging the 240 litre wheelie bin with the 140 litre dry recyclables wheelie bin at a future date to further aid waste minimisation.

7.1The blue bin kerbside recycling scheme was introduced to all properties in the Borough in September 2004 providing a co-mingled collection of paper, plastic, cardboard, cans and glass.

7.2The blue bin scheme was introduced using 140l bins. In October 2005 Cabinet agreed that all new properties would receive a 240l blue bin for recyclables and a 140l black bin for residual waste. It was also agreed that any resident who wanted to swap the sizes of the bins would be permitted to do so as this policy encourages waste minimisation and recycling. 4,331 requests have been made by residents to exchange the size of their bins.

7.3The scheme to date has enabled Poole to consistently perform in excess of the Borough’s statutory target of 30%. The overall recycling rate has risen from 18. 7% in 2002/03 to 34.6% 2006/7. The Waste Strategy for England has indicated that new and more stretching targets could be introduced during the lifetime of the next strategy pushing Poole’s target to 40% by 2010 and 50% by 2020.

7.4From 1997 dry recyclable household waste was collected at the kerbside from 80% of properties (excluding flats) in the borough. The collection was made in 50L black boxes. The tonnage collected dropped from an initial 3,562 tonnes in 1997 to 1,743 tonnes in 2001 when the waste strategy was being developed. Recyclable waste was also collected in bring sites at that time. The two streams combined produced a recycling rate of 17%. In 2006/2007 with every resident benefiting from a blue kerbside collection including flats the tonnage collected equated to 13,855 tonnes, contributing to a recycling rate of 34.6%.

7.5Participation in the scheme was measured by a survey in 2005. This found that 98% of people placed their bin out for collection at least once every three collections (over a six week period). In order to improve performance further it was recognised that we needed to improve the commitment to recycling by encouraging residents to maximise the waste that is separated and placed in the blue bin. In 2006 A successful bid for resources through the Waste Resources Action Programme’s “Behavioral Change Local Fund” obtained £259,100 over 18 months, to further improve the recycling performance of both residents and visitors. A waste analysis was performed to establish the capture rate of different materials collected in the blue bin against items in the black bin. This analysis identified that plastic bottles (50%), cardboard (49%) and cans (38%) were the least collected items compared to glass (73%) and paper (72%) collected. Residents were sent collection calendars with fridge magnets and a communication campaign then followed which focused on the blue bin, and in particular plastic bottles, cardboard and cans. The campaign utlilises radio, committed recycler questionnaires, door stepping, posters and advertorials in the local paper. The programme is on going and ends in March 2008.

7.6Further, a bus campaign, 6 sheet posters, radio advertising, posters and promotional items have been used to promote recycling to visitors to Poole. Residents will have also benefited from these communications.

7.7The recent Best Value Survey (BV90b) reported satisfaction with recycling in Poole to be 84%. The highest of any authority in Dorset.

8.0 Continued use of the bring site facilities for recyclable material with possible rationalisation or changes to meet new legislation such as Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

8.1At the time that the strategy was approved it was not envisaged that the Borough would have the opportunity to include glass within the co-mingled kerbside collection. Due to the successful negotiation on the inclusion of glass in the kerbside recycling scheme, the decision was taken to withdraw glass bring site facilities. This reduced the risk that the Borough would incur the costs of glass disposal from residents outside Poole or from commercial business.

8.2Recycling bring sites have remained in all previously employed locations for

the collection of textiles, aluminium, books and shoes. Currently there are twenty two bring banks operated by contractors of behalf of the Borough. These attract 172 tonnes and account for 0.9% of all household waste recycled in Poole.

8.3The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Act (WEEE) encountered significant delays and was not formerly introduced until 1st July 2007, 2 years after its intended implementation date. In order to comply with the WEEE Act the Borough has registered its Nuffield Household Recycling Centre as a Designated Collection Facility for the collection of WEEE items.

8.4WEEE items are categorised into 5 types. These are large domestic white goods none refrigerated, refrigerated white goods, fluorescent light tubes, TV’s and monitors and small electrical items.. Previously this waste was either sent to landfill, disposed of as hazardous waste or recycled. Following the implementation of the legislation all this waste must now be treated with a view to maximising recycling. Information has been made available to residents to inform them of the change and to discourage the disposal of WEEE items in the residual black bin. It is too early to confirm if this change will have a positive impact on our recycling performance but some improvement is anticipated.

9.0Introducing a fortnightly doorstep collection of glass on alternate weeks to dry recyclables.

9.1At the time the 2002 strategy was approved the technology for the inclusion of

glass in a co-mingled recycling waste stream was in its infancy, however during negotiations with the preferred waste disposal contractor, Viridor Waste Management Ltd, the inclusion of glass was successfully secured in 2004. Consequently the residents of Poole benefited by being able to recycle 5 streams of waste in a single bin and reduced collection costs due to the use of a single vehicle collecting all 5 products.

9.2Co-mingled recyclable waste is separated into separate recyclable commodities by the use of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Poole’s commingled waste is currently separated at an MRF in Kent. However a report was considered by EOG and Cabinet on the 3rd and 4th September which seeks to deliver such a facility in Poole. This will reduce the “waste miles” covered by the commingled waste and permit more direct access to markets for the separated streams such as glass, paper, plastic, cardboard and metal.

10.0Consider collection service for green waste using a pre-paid sack. In the longer term this material may be bulked up at the Civic Amenity Site for delivery to a composting facility and consideration would be given to excluding green waste from wheeled bins.

10.1Through the establishment of the waste transfer station at the Nuffield Road site in 2004, it has been possible to bulk the garden waste deposited by residents at the NHRC and then transport it to Eco Composting Ltd at Hurn, Dorset where it is composted and then commercially sold.

10.2In 2005/6 a desk top feasibility study into the potential viability of establishing a green waste collection scheme was commissioned. This work was undertaken by Recycling and Organic Technical Advisory Team (ROTATE), the technical arm of WRAP. The results provided from this work indicated there was advantage to be gained by establishing a green waste scheme.

10.3A 240 litre Green bin was selected for the green waste scheme to allow sufficient waste to be collected to make the rounds viable. In unison the decision was also taken to prohibit those properties serviced by the kerbside green waste scheme placing green waste in their black residual waste bin. As with all other collections the policy of no side waste was also included on this scheme to encourage residents to compost first. Side waste also poses health and safety risks and can lead to the build up of detritus in our streets. Participating residents were specifically encouraged as part of this scheme to continue to home compost as a first option in line with recycling objectives.

10.4In March 2006 Cabinet approved the implementation of a fortnightly garden waste collection scheme initially for 12,000 properties. This scheme was funded through the Waste Performance Efficiency Grant (WPEG) administered by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The properties to receive the scheme were selected by consultants and the decision was based on geographic and efficiency modelling software. The scheme in its first year ran from June - November. In the first 6 months of the garden waste scheme a total of 2014 tonnes of waste was collected equating to 31% of all green household waste sent for composting in 2006.

10.5It was recognised that we needed to make it easier for those properties not in receipt of a green waste collection service to compost their green waste and to discourage the use of the black bin and consequent land filling of this waste. Therefore two green bring sites were established (April - October) and four additional seasonal sites (November - March) were established.

10.6Following the successful introduction of the first 12,000 green bins a further report was taken to Environment Overview Group in October 2006 which reviewed the scheme. Throughout the first 3 months of the scheme 1,068 tones were collected which was consistent with the modelling which had been done prior to the scheme and which accounted for 14.3kg of household waste per household. A large proportion of this waste would have gone to landfill were the scheme not in place. This was supported by a waste composition analysis found that in areas with a kerbside garden waste collection only 1.37% of black bin still included garden material where as this figure was 9.59% in areas without a green scheme. As a result Cabinet approved the introduction an additional 10,000 green waste kerbside collection bins. The same selection process was employed as previously to establish which properties would receive the Green Waste Service.