Decision details

The Head of Streetcare Services provided the Cabinet with feedback from the 5-week public consultation period during December 2022 – January 2023 with respect to proposed revisions to the Council’s operational waste management processes regarding future arrangements for the collection of refuse and recycling designed to aid an increase in the rate of recycling across RCT, whilst also offering financial efficiencies and to help inform a Cabinet decision on the way forward.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Leisure took the opportunity to thank the officer for the detailed report, the consultation team for the work undertaken and the residents for engaging with the process.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged Wales’ ambition to achieving a 70% recycling target of household waste by 2025 and was pleased to note that Rhondda Cynon Taf was striving to meet the target, with a current recycling figure of 67.48%, to avoid facing heavy penalties.

The Cabinet Member was in support of the proposals outlined within the report, which would see an improvement in recycling rates, a reduction in the Council’s Carbon footprint and potential financial savings of almost £1.5M. The Cabinet Member agreed with officers that clear communication and engagement with residents would be key to the success and implementation of any changes.

In respect of the 4000+ consultation responses received, the Cabinet Member was pleased to note that concerns ofresidents with the standard 120L wheelie bins, had been addressed and that an additional side waste bag would be permitted. In terms of the trial of the reusable recycling sacks for dry mixed recycling, the Cabinet Member noted that a high percentage of residents were in support of the change but acknowledged that some streets lend themselves better than other, hence the need for a trial.

The Cabinet Member questioned what mitigations were in place to alleviate the concerns of residents with larger families, young families or for those living in smaller houses with a limited amount of space, should the Cabinet be minded to approval the proposals. The officer thanked the Cabinet Member for the question and emphasised that in terms of the refuse collection, the service would remain the same as there would be three black bags collected every three weeks. In terms of larger families, the officer explained that an additional side waste bag would be permitted for those with the standard 120L wheelie bins to help mitigate the impact. In terms of the storage of the reusable recycling bags, the officer emphasised that it would be a trial and as such, any views of residents, positive or negative, would be fed back to the Cabinet to determine a way forward. In terms of the storage of black bags, the officer emphasised that most household waste would continue to be collected weekly, such as nappies, food and recycling and therefore, black bag waste should be minimal. The officer explained that a comprehensive media campaign would be undertaken with regards to the importance of recycling to better inform and educate residents and benefit those with concerns about a greater volume of waste and limit the adverse impact. The officer added that the Council offer an additional black bag allowance to residents who are struggling with the waste allowance, a process which was under review.

In respect of the point made about large families, the Leader clarified that officers would work with families and ask them to contact the Council with any problems. Officers would then be able to support the families with recycling and to ensure the absolute minimum is going in the black bag waste but if they were to still struggle due to having a large family or increased pet waste, officers can verify and offer an additional black bag. The Leader also emphasised the need to work with housing providers in respect of collection points going forward.

The Leader sought to address the potential financial aspect of the proposals, which would save over £1M and explained that it would be the equivalent of closing three sport centres. The Leader advised that a number of areas operate this way and that it was important to learn from their findings. It was explained that several Local Authorities in Wales had also announced similar reviews of waste services as part of their Budget Strategies and if they were all to approve the proposals, approximately 2/3 of Local Authorities in Wales would be undertaking similar service changes.

The Deputy Leader echoed previous comments around the importance of communication and education to improve recycling figures in RCT and engagement with social landlords and tenants. In terms of the Local Authorities already undertaking waste collection on a three-weekly basis, the Deputy Leader questioned if any issues had arisen and if so, how they had been dealt with. A concern raised by residents was in relation to the disposal of women’s sanitary products, the Deputy Leader requested further information from the officer in respect of those concerns. The officer advised that, at present, the only method of sanitary products disposal was via refuse collection, which had been noted as a negative equality impact. However, the officer explained that of those Local Authorities across the country, with three or four weekly refuse collections, all had faced the same issue but none, to the officer’s knowledge, had had to revert to weekly or fortnightly refuse collection. The officer assured Members that all aspects of the consultation would be kept under review and mitigations would be put in place, where possible and when required.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Corporate Services noted the environmental benefits of the proposal. The Cabinet Member noted that the concerns raised from residents with disabilities and those without access to a vehicle. The Cabinet Member acknowledged that an additional bag could be problematic and potentially heavier, if filled with cat litter and animal waste etc and asked what mitigations were in place. In terms of cat litter, the officer advised that consideration was being given to taking it to the community recycling centres on a controlled basis, which should mitigate concerns. In terms of the additional bag and any difficulties moving it to the curb side or collection point, the officer emphasised that the Council would continue to assist those residents. The Leader added that, residents who obtain a lot of animal waste in their refuse, would have the opportunity to speak with officers and acquire an additional waste bag to spread the weight of the litter.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To note the content of the report and duly resolve to approve the introduction of the following revisions to the Council’s Waste Management Strategy:

(i)   The collection of residual household waste on a 3-weekly basis for all domestic waste collections.

(ii)  The presentation of waste on a 3-weekly basis will be as follows; strict volume control measures will apply to all domestic waste, namely: 

(a)        A maximum of 3 black bags per household, (for those properties with existing black bag waste collections),

(b)        The “no side waste” rule continues for those households with large 240L wheelie bin collections, (but 1 bag of side waste, no larger than 70L, is allowed for the standard 120L bins).

(iii)  The initiation of a trial of the use of reusable recycling sacks for the collection of dry mixed recycling, (DMR).