Agenda item

This report provides an update on the activity carried out by the following contractors to Medway Council for the contract year October 2016 to September 2017:

Veolia Environmental Services – providing waste and recycling collection, waste disposal and street cleansing services

FCC (formerly Waste Recycling Group) – providing management of the three household waste recycling centres

Discussion:

The Committee received a comprehensive report and presentations providing an update on the activities carried out by Veolia Environmental Services on the provision of waste and recycling collection, waste disposal and street cleansing services and FCC (formerly Waste Recycling Group) providing management of the three household waste recycling centres.

It was noted that the FCC contract for the management of the Household Waste Recycling Centres ended on 26 September 2017. Therefore, the report placed before the Committee reviewed performance from the last 7 years (October 2010 – September 2017). From September 2017, management of the household waste recycling centres had been taken over by Medway NORSE.

Kim Savil, Contracts Manager Medway – Veolia was in attendance at the meeting to answer questions and Andy Mann, Operations Director from Medway NORSE was also in attendance.

The Committee discussed the following issues:

·         The possibility of providing Dementia Awareness Training for Veolia staff.

·         The potential need to re-assess whether it was practicable for weekly recycling collections to be fulfilled over the Christmas/New Year period when there was an increased level of general refuse. In response, Kim Savill confirmed that in 2018, the collection of green waste would be suspended for one week over the Christmas/New Year period so as to ease pressure on general waste collections.

·         The need to consider additional methods of informing the public of suspended refuse collections when there was snow taking into account that some people do not have online access.

·         Whether lessons had been learnt from the incident involving an individual who was sleeping in a trade refuse bin in Rochester High Street. In response, Kim Savil advised that all Veolia staff undergo extensive training to raise awareness of the potential issue of rough sleepers using trade refuse bins for shelter. She gave an assurance that all necessary procedures had been followed by staff on the day of the incident. The matter was currently being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The Head of Waste Services also confirmed that officers had been in contact with landlords advising upon the HSE’s best practice on bin storage.

·         The restrictions put in place by China on plastics and low grade paper and whether this had impacted on the contract price for recycling. In response, the Head of Waste confirmed that the changes in market costs had not affected Medway and officers continued to work closely with the Southwark MRF (Materials Recycling Facility) on this matter.

·         The introduction of charges for the disposal of tyres at Household Waste Recycling Centres and how this will be implemented. The Head of Waste Services advised that officers were currently considering the implementation of this scheme including where and how payments would be taken. 

·         Whether the new Refuse Collection Contract would result in a reduction in weekly collections of household waste. In response, the Head of Waste confirmed that the new contract had been let on the same basis as the existing contract.

·         A request that future reports include more detailed information on recycling to underpin the figures included within the report.

·         A request that future reports include a detailed breakdown of the type of flytipping in Medway e.g. whether it was household waste, bulky refuse or commercial waste.

·         Issues concerning recycling of mattresses. The Head of Waste confirmed that few mattresses were able to be recycled but if any Member knew of hostels or sites willing to accept recycled mattresses, this information would be useful.

·         The national trend for a fall in recycling tonnage and work being undertaken by the national organisation WRAP with the Government to identify possible causes for this reduction.

·         Work undertaken by the Environmental Enforcement Team where metal theft was identified.

·         The advertisement of Easter opening times of the Household Waste Recycling Centres in the press and on social media.

·         Whether there was any correlation between the level of flytipping and the introduction of the charge for the collection of bulky waste. In response the Head of Waste drew attention to a recent briefing note circulated to Members of the Committee on this subject and a response to a question at Council. She confirmed that there had been a reduction in the collection of bulky waste but an increase in the disposal of bulky waste items at the Household Waste Recycling Centres. She confirmed that flytipping had increased across the Country and that the majority of flytipping in Medway related to commercial waste. She advised that the Environmental Enforcement Team thoroughly investigated incidents of flytipping and officers also worked with neighbouring authorities to share information.

 Decision:

The Committee thanked the representatives from Veolia and Medway NORSE for attending the meeting and:

a)            noted that arrangements will be made by Veolia for staff to undergo Dementia Awareness training.

b)            requested that officers discuss with Communications, appropriate methods of communicating the suspension of refuse collections when there is snow taking into account that not all individuals have access to social media.

c)            requested that officers supply further information on the level of reduced landfill tonnage as a result of changes to the shift patterns of staff at the Transfer Station to ensure that they are available to sort materials and thus increase recycling.

d)            requested that Customer Contact be provided with information as to the types of vehicles permitted to enter the Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centres so that this may be relayed this when receiving customer enquiries.

e)            requested that future reports include information on the calculation of recycling to underpin the figures contained within the report.

f)             requested that in 2019, the annual report include a more detailed breakdown of the type of flytipping in Medway e.g. household, bulky or commercial waste and information on prosecutions.