Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee 7 th June 2007

Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee7th June 2007 Policy on waste/recycling collections Stephen Jones Divisional Manager Streetscene and Waste

Need for a policy.. • To allow Members to set a clear and consistent standard for all refuse services across the County • To allow Officers to provide a cost effective service based on the policy • To allow the Authority to raise awareness of the policy and procedures with the residents of the County • To allow the call centre staff to deliver the right message in respect of County policy • Provide guidelines and legal framework for future enforcement

Existing position… Background • Emphasis in Wrexham is on recycling • WCBC provides a wholly ‘enclosed bin’ service (i.e. wheelie bins) • WCBC provides a weekly recycling collection service • There is no limit to the number of recycling boxes/bins provided and emptied (is this publicised sufficiently?) • WCBC provides a fortnightly residual waste collection • WCBC is the only Authority in Wales, and only one of 20 across the Country who provide this level of service

Existing position… Background • Other North Wales Authorities are considering changing to system operated by WCBC • Approximately 92% of properties are now included on recycling rounds • Area’s not involved include properties mainly on rural unclassified roads in Burton, the Outskirts of Ruabon, Rhos, Chirk, Halton, Minera Mountain, Erbistock and parts of the Ceiriog Valley – see map

What can and can’t be recycled • Recyclables • Tins (and lids) – plastics – glass – • Not recyclables • Butter and yoghurt containers – lids from bottles – cardboard (can be taken to recycling centres)

Residents Responsibilities • Residents must present their bins and recycling receptacles by 7:30am, but no earlier than the evening before. • The collection point is either where the private property meets the pavement or where a designated collection point has been pre-arranged with the Supervisors • The correct materials must be in each receptacle • There must be no contamination.

Residents’ Responsibilities Residents are invited to contact us for • Additional recycling boxes and sacks. • If they are a family of 8 or more and require an additional capacity 240 litre rubbish bin. • If they would like a visit from a Recycling Officer to advise further on recycling and how to minimise their rubbish

The Crews’ Responsibilities • Recycling and Refuse Crews should return the wheeled bins, boxes and sacks to the collection point • The lid of wheeled bins must be shut • The bins and boxes must not block access to the property • Stickers must be placed on the container to indicate a problem • To place the lids inside the boxes once emptied • To place the empty sack back in the box or in a secure position so it will not blow away (e.g. through a gate/handle of the box) • To leave ‘Thank you’ flyers in full boxes offering additional boxes/sacks. • Clear up any spillages with brush and shovel provided.

Areas Requiring Policy • Assisted collections • Overloaded bins • Side waste • Heavy bins • Provision of larger capacity bins or additional bins to larger households • Enforcement • Service provision at multi level properties (flats)

Assisted Collections • Currently if all residents within a household are physically or mentally unable to present the wheeled bin and/or box and sack for collection The crews must collect the bin/box from the house and return it to the same place once emptied. Application forms are available from the Environment Department Call Centre on Tel. 01978 292044.

Overloaded bins • Three options • Refuse to empty bin • Empty bin as normal, note address and contact • Remove overload, empty bin and replace overload in bin. Leave note to inform of policy

Advantages/Disadvantages – Not emptying bin • Advantages • Gets the message across • Disadvantages • Bad publicity • Public health issues • Risk of loosing residents commitment to recycling

Remove overload, empty bin and replace overload in bin. Leave note to inform of policy • Advantages • Good publicity • Cleaner streets • Delivers recycling message • Disadvantages • Prolongs the time taken to complete the round

Advantages/Disadvantages – Empty bin as normal note address and contact • Advantages • Good publicity • Cleaner streets • Disadvantages • Fails to deliver recycling message • Costly in tipping and potential WAG fines

Side Waste • Options • Empty bin only • Empty bin and side waste, note address and contact resident • Empty bin, load side waste in bin. Leave note to inform of policy • Serve FPN after 3 ‘yellow cards’

Advantages/Disadvantages Empty bin only • Advantages • Gets the message across • Reduced waste disposal costs • Disadvantages • Public health issues • Risk of loosing residents commitment to recycling • Bad publicity

Advantages/Disadvantages - Empty bin and side waste, note address and contact resident • Advantages • Good publicity • Cleaner streets • Disadvantages • Fails to deliver recycling message, once residents see WCBC clear the side waste they may not embrace recycling, and the situation will get worse • Costly in tipping and potential WAG fines

Advantages/Disadvantages - Empty bin, load side waste in bin. Leave note to inform of policy • Advantages • Good publicity • Cleaner streets • Delivers recycling message • Disadvantages • Additional cost for collection through increased route time

Heavy Bins • Two options • Empty bin • Don’t empty bin, leave note

Advantages/Disadvantages – Empty Bin • Advantages • Good publicity • Clean streets • Disadvantages • Does not promote recycling • Increases tipping costs • Risk of injury to operatives

Advantages/Disadvantages – Don’t empty Bin • Advantages • Promotes the recycling agenda • Reduces risk of injury to operatives • Disadvantages • May encourage fly tipping

Provision of larger capacity bins to large households • Existing arrangement allow a house with 8 or more residents to have an additional bin • Other options considered in this report • Provide a second bin to household with 6 or more residents

‘8 or more’ system Advantages • Forces all families, especially larger ones to recycle. Note: No restriction on number of recycling boxes • Keeps down tipping costs • Easier to administer Disadvantages • If people can’t cope, they may well give up and refuse to recycle at all! • Increased fly tipping as the excess waste is disposed of illegally, although current figures does not suggest the problem is increasing since the introduction of the recycling initiative • Houses of Multiple occupancy (HMO’s) may have some willing participants and some who are not

‘6 or more’ system Advantages • If residents are able to cope they may be more willing to participate • Reduces the chance of fly tipping, • Good public relations, especially as waste collection generally is currently receiving ‘bad press’ Disadvantages • Increased landfill costs • Increase administration costs • Could remove the ’need’ and therefore the motivation to recycle

Increased costs of a‘6 or more’ system We need firstly to establishing the number of properties involved There are two types of property • One family properties with 6 or more family members • HMO’s with 6 or more residents

Establishing number of households with 6 or more family members • From the 2001 census, it is shown that 1.6% of Wrexham homes have 6 or more residents • In the intervening years, whilst individual families might have altered circumstances, the overall percentage across the Authority will be constant

Establishing number of HMO’s • No up to date figures exist on the number of HMO’s • The 2001 census showed 1.6% of WCBC property’s were capable or already housing multiple occupants • It is fair to assume that (at least) all of these properties are now multi-occupied and by more than 6 people

Establishing number of properties with 6 or more residents • 1.6% of properties with 6 or more family members • 1.6% of properties with Multiple occupants of 6 or more • Total of 3.2% of properties have 6 or more residents • This totals 1728 properties

Cost of a ‘6 +’ service Two elements • Provision and delivery of bin £43k. (WCBC could make a charge which would recover some of these costs) • Annual additional disposal costs £53k The PFI initiative will allow cardboard and kitchen waste to be placed in the recycling (green) bin. This will result in 62% of all household waste being able to be recycled. Once the PFI bid is delivered the larger bins could be removed

Statistics • Incidents of fly tipping have actually fell from 558 in 2005/6 to 437 in 2006/7 • Incidents of black bag fly tipping (containing household waste) has increased from 137 in 2005/6 to 278 in 2006/7 • We have received just 15 requests for larger bin capacity in the last 6 months, 3 of which would not qualify under either arrangement, as there was less than 6 in the household

Enforcement • With WCBC policy in place enforcement can be considered for the following • Overloaded or bins with material left along side – side waste • Failure to recycle

Policy on multi level properties (flats) • Because of the problems of storage, and carrying boxes/bags down stairwells, recycling facilities are not provided to properties above ground floor level without request • A ‘bring’ recycling centre is provided on each site • The level of participation is lower at these properties

Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee 7 th June 2007