Agenda item

The Strategic Waste Officer presented the report to Members providing an update on green waste collections following the implementation of sack collections and the ‘RCT’s Got a Brand New Bag’ communications campaign. She acknowledged that RCT had some very strict recycling targets with a target of 70% set by Welsh Government (WG) and an internal target of 80%, both by 2024. The service was also assisting the Council to become a carbon neutral Council which included reducing the amount of single use plastic and by looking at the Council’s carbon footprint. The changes involved switching to reusable green waste sacks, which were free of charge to residents on registering their address against the collections which also allowed the Council to monitor who and how often customers were participating. There was also the opportunity for residents to buy extra sacks.

The Strategic Waste Officer updated Members on the communications campaign. Bringing Members up to date she confirmed there were nearly 36k registered customers with 76.5k sacks, with 97% of these registrations having been online. There was a very small take up of trade with 59, including for example florists, churches, etc. To date, 96% of registered customers had only ordered the 2 free sacks. The Strategic Waste Officer updated Members on both the positive and negative feedback and concerns, following the switchover and as a result, the spring communication had been amended in line with concerns raised. A number of issues that had occurred as a result of the change including some difficult to access properties, properties coming up as trade, allotment collections and missed collections, and the Strategic Waste Officer highlighted the solutions put in place.

The Strategic Waste Officer highlighted that staff were coping well, even though they had not completed a full season, and highlighted the intelligence which could be used going forward to ensure collections were as efficient as possible. She provided Members with some numbers, in terms of resources and highlighted that the Taf area was very top heavy and so a close eye would be kept on resources to ensure that collections did not run behind.  In addition, the tonnage and participation would be monitored carefully, and it was hoped that the mass delivery of green sacks had already been done, although again, this would be monitored closely.

The Strategic Waste Officer finished by explaining that communications would be stepped up over the next couple of weeks with a press release going out on the 1^st and 15^th March which would highlight the return to weekly green waste collections, an increase in social media for the first 2 weeks of Easter in addition to using the information sticker.

The Chair thanked Officers for the report and, following the update, Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions.

A Member stated that the report was very comprehensive and stated it would be interesting, with regard to demand, to see what happened after Easter, when a lot more people would be gardening. In respect of Allotments, the Member asked that when Officers communicated with Allotments could they also communicate with Community Councils, so they are kept in the loop.

A Member asked the Officers for clarification in relation to the complaints about the bags containing loose items. 

The Strategic Waste Officer confirmed that examples of this were dry leaves and hutch waste, which could be quite light.

The Member also asked for clarifications on properties being removed if no green waste was presented, this being collections and not weeks?

The Strategic Waste Officer confirmed that it was collections.

The Member picked up that some people weren’t happy with the number of bags e.g., someone with a small lawn compared with someone with a large area, however the Member felt the report was generally positive.

The Chair noted that rabbit hutch waste was still being collected and asked if this was the same for wood pelleted cat litter?

The Strategic Waste Officer confirmed that it was only hutch animals e.g., Rabbits/Guinea pigs. She explained that they had checked with the processors, and they had been quite clear that it was only hutch waste that they would accept.

The Chair asked for further clarification for the Committee, as a lot of people used the recyclable cat litter pellets?

The Service Director – Streetcare noted that historically the wood pellet type wasn’t widely used, but he would seek further clarification.

A Member noted that he had received several complaints where residents hadn’t received their sacks and asked if this could be looked into. The Member also noted that one person had complained their sack had accidentally gone into a back of a lorry and was now in dispute with the Council with trying to get a replacement. Regarding Allotments, the Member also asked that communication was needed with Tonyrefail Community Council, who looked after the ones in TonyrefaiI. The Member recognised there were hard to reach areas with narrow lanes, and asked if residents would receive green sacks or would they still be using the plastic sacks?

The Service Director - Streetcare noted that they had received a relatively small number of complaints but were aware some were saying they had not received their green bags so the Service would be re-delivering to those people. He explained that when it came to collections, the record would show they had 2 sacks, so if people were trying to use it to get an additional 2 sacks and they presented 4 sacks, only 2 sacks would be collected. It was not open to abuse, in that respect. In terms of narrow lanes, there were some hard-to-reach areas, which the green collection vehicle couldn’t access readily, so if those properties were not able to be accessed, they would remain as a plastic sack collection.  In terms of the individual green sack in the lorry, if it was the crew’s fault, this would be honoured, and the sack replaced. The Strategic Waste Officer explained that she was aware of the case mentioned and would investigate. In terms of Allotments there were some allotments that had to carry on with clear bags, because of where they were but they would be told that.

The Chair asked if the Council was contacting Council Allotments, or private Allotments?

The Service Director - Streetcare confirmed that initially contact would be with allotments run by societies in order to keep a tight control, but would see how it went.

A Member stated that this was a good report, with few complaints. He explained with regard to loose waste that in the north there were high winds, even in the summer. He understood the issue of tying the bags, but wouldn’t that mean crews having to undo a knot? The Member asked if Officers were looking flaps for future bags?

The Service Director - Streetcare explained that a full review would be undertaken after a full season and any future purchases could consider bags with flaps on, if that was a recommendation. In terms of loose waste, he confirmed people were not expected to tie knots, but just put the handles together. In terms of winds, it was a common-sense approach, and he didn’t see the green waste posing any greater risk. The Service Director -Streetcare confirmed that all waste collections were suspended for the 18/2 due to the high winds and the knock-on effect for the following week, meant everything moved on a day.

A Member referred to the table on page 12 and noted that the Taf area was taking the lead with green waste collections. He noticed at the top of the league was Beddau, and asked for clarification that this included Beddau and Ty Nant?

The Strategic Waste Officer confirmed that Ty Nant did come under Beddau.

A Member felt that the report should say it covered Beddau and Ty Nant. In respect of extra money for flaps, the Member did not feel if it would be worthwhile, as from a family Members experience, they were not effective.

The Chair noted the saving of about 3m recycling bags, and asked what the saving was on that?

The Service Director - Streetcare confirmed that it was not so much the monetary value, but reduction in single use plastic, but he would find this out.

The Chair noted his disappointment that only 59 businesses had signed up but was glad this was now on the website, and glad the service was looking at allotments. The Chair also felt that the tables for the tonnage, on 4.11, could have been printed better. Regarding the unsuitable vehicles and getting new vehicles in, the Chair asked when this would be looked at and would these vehicles be electric, hydrogen or diesel?

The Service Director - Streetcare stated that vehicles were on a rolling programme over a number of years and was dependent on their current age and condition. The Service was always looking to rationalise and review, what was the appropriate vehicle but there were some areas that could not be accessed with a refuse size vehicle, due to difficulty in accessing those properties, although this was a small percentage. Technology was developing all the time and the Service was well on board under climate change strategy to develop low emission vehicles be it electric or hydrogen going forward. Experiencing of trailing vehicles had been ok on the flat, but challenging on steep sided valleys, so they needed to be fit for purpose. Technology was constantly changing, and the Service was part of various working groups to look at fleet replacement.

The Chair noted that himself, the Vice chair and other Members of the Committee were happy be involved in a campaign/video to promote the green waste collections.

The Service Director - Streetcare noted this.

The Chair asked for clarification on the re-bagging of compost and selling it to local allotments.

The Service Director – Streetcare explained that for the processors to make a reasonable quality compost, they needed to extract the plastic fragments. The Service was not responsible for the processing part or the onward potential of reusing and recycling and selling back compost – it was the processors, but he explained that the Service were trying to provide a product that the processors could work with better to be able for it to become a product, that could be considered going forward.

The Cabinet Member Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services thanked the Officers, noting it was not an easy job to bring this in, but it was about climate change and the Council’s duty. There was a need to tweak and listen to the residents and she thanked residents for embracing this. There would be a Challenge coming into the spring, but the local authority had been proactive in communication. The Cabinet Member Environment, Leisure and Heritage Services concluded by thanking Scrutiny and Councillors for sharing the information in such a positive way.

The Chair thanked Officers for the report and confirmed they had the backing of the committee.

Members RESOLVED to note the content of the report and agreed that they should further scrutinise, and should be an ongoing item for this committee.