Discussion:
The Committee received a report
setting out a summary of performance on the following Medway waste
contracts for the contract year October 2021 to September
2022:
- Veolia Environmental
Services – providing waste disposal services for residual and
recycling waste.
- Medway Norse –
providing waste collection, street cleaning services and management
of Medway’s Household Waste Recycling Centres
(HWRC)
The following was
discussed:
- Nitrous oxide
cannisters and verge cleansing – It
was questioned whether figures were available for the collection of
discarded nitrous oxide cannisters, whether data could be provided
and whether litter removal from areas beyond verges was part of the
Norse contract. The Council’s Head of Regulatory and
Environmental Services said that nitrous oxide use was an emerging
issue and that consideration could be given to collecting figures.
Litter picks of verges were undertaken when they were mowed. The
Partnership Director of Medway Norse added that litter beyond the
verge was currently not part of the contract and that consideration
needed to be given as to how to tackle this.
- Recycling rates,
HMOs, kerbside collections and commercial waste –
Noting that Medway’s recycling rate was 40%
compared to a national average of 51%, it was questioned why
Medway’s rate was falling. It was also asked what was being
done to support those living in flats and Houses of Multiple
Occupation (HMOs) to recycle more, whether there was sufficient
capacity to deal with increased volume of kerbside collection waste
and whether information could be provided in relation to commercial
waste.
The
Head of Regulatory and Environmental Services said that work was
needed to encourage people to recycle and that changes to the
materials that could be recycled had led to a small reduction in
recycling. Public engagement, particularly with schools was
important to increasing rates of recycling. Other communications
channels, such as Medway Matters were also important. Work was
being commissioned to look at how people in flats and HMOs managed
waste. This could be circulated to the Committee when available.
The Partnership Director added that the increase in home delivery
during the Covid-19 pandemic had resulted in there being additional
packaging for kerbside collection and that under the new waste
disposal contract, tetra pak could now
be recycled, there was therefore a need for this to be highlighted
to residents. In relation to commercial waste, the provision of
blue bags to High Streets and markets had made it easier to
differentiate between household and commercial waste and therefore
to take enforcement action against those found to not be paying for
the proper disposal of commercial waste. A Member requested that
further information be provided in relation to commercial
waste.
- Tetra Pak
Recycling and Hillyfield Park bins
– In response to a Member question,
it was confirmed that the promotion of Tetra Pak recycling by
supermarkets would be picked up with the Engagement Team and that
the two bins that were due to have been provided in Hillyfield Community Park would be looked into.
- Increased
collection tonnage and increasing litter –
Reflecting that tonnage of waste collected had
increased from 283 in 2012 to 739 in the most recent year, it was
asked why the increase had been so significant. It was also asked,
in view of increased levels of littering, what was being done to
publicise the higher fines that could be imposed and to catch those
who litter. The Partnership Director said that there had been a
significant increase in bulky hardcore tips during the previous
year and that this would have skewed the figures. Increases in the
collection of fly tipping could also have contributed to some of
the rise. The Head of Regulatory and Environmental Services stated
that litter enforcement in Medway was undertaken by District
Enforcement. There were between three and six officers covering
Medway with 200 to 250 fixed penalty notices having been issued.
The payment rate of fines was over 70%. To date, there had been
little publicity of this work. Increased communications capacity
was expected imminently.
- Rubbish sacks left
in the street – In response to
concern that some residents put rubbish and recycling sacks out
days in advance of collection and a request that particular
consideration be given to areas with high concentrations, the Head
of Regulatory and Environmental Services said that projects were
being undertaken in relation to provision of bins and street
cleansing. Development would include the use of specialist software
and providing crews with tablets for them to record photographic
evidence. Information had been collected over the last eight weeks.
This would be reviewed to identify the areas of Medway to be
targeted. Street Scene Officers were able to issue warnings where
rubbish and recycling bags were put out early and enforcement
action could be undertaken if this continued.
- Future of the
waste contract and electric vehicles –
In response to a question about the future of waste
contracts and the use of electric vehicles, the Head of Regulatory
and Environmental Services said that guidance was awaited regarding
the Environment Act, including how this would impact on the
management and collection of waste. A piece of work was looking at
replacement of vehicles with electric vehicles, within site
limitations. Consideration was being given to the use of hydrogen
vehicles. The Partnership Director said that over 150 vehicles that
would have been running on diesel had switched to renewable
energy.
- Waste going abroad
– A Member gave his thanks to the
waste collection teams and asked if it was known where the 11% of
rubbish sent abroad was going. The Head of Regulatory and
Environmental Services undertook to provide the Committee with
information on this.
- Hoath Way Recycling Centre
and Pier Road Depot – It was
questioned whether provision could be made for rigid plastic
recycling at the Hoath Way Recycling
Centre and whether a direct contact number could be provided to
residents for any future complaints about noise at the Pier Road
Norse depot. The Partnership Director said that a number of local
residents had engaged with one of his managers via a WhatsApp group
in relation to the Pier Road depot and that he would look at the
provision of other contact methods. There were no plans for the
provision of rigid plastic recycling at the Hoath Way Recycling Centre due to the cost and
space limitations of the site. For the service to be provided, it
was likely that another provision would need to be reduced. Any
further investigations would need to consider recycling volumes to
look at whether it could be justified.
- Fly Tipping on
private land – The Partnership
Director said removal of Fly Tipping from private land was the
responsibility of the landowner, although advice and assistance was
offered. Successful prosecutions had included a 20 week jail
sentence and a 5 year ban from involvement in the waste
sector.
Decision:
The Committee:
a)
Expressed appreciation to officers, Veolia and
Medway Norse for the services provided and noted the content of the
report including the Annual Service Reports set out at Appendices
1, 2 and 3.
b)
Requested that consideration be given to recording
figures for the number of nitrous oxide cannisters collected and
that these be provided to the Committee and that further
consideration be given to the collection of litter beyond verges,
that was not currently part of the Norse contract
c)
Requested that data in relation to commercial waste
be provided to the Committee.
d)
Asked for liaison to be undertaken with supermarkets
regarding the promotion of tetra pak
recycling and for the two bins due to be provided in Hillyfield Community Park to be
installed.
e)
Requested that the report looking at how residents
of flats and Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) manage their
waste be circulated to the Committee when available.
f)
Asked that details of work being undertaken to
address the issue of rubbish and recycling sacks being left in the
street for an excessively long period be provided to the
Committee.
g)
Requested that the Committee be provided with
information in relation to waste sent abroad from
Medway.
h)
Requested that the provision of rigid plastic
recycling at Hoath Way Recycling Centre
and the availability of a single point of contact for residents
regarding the Pier Road depot be further investigated.