Agenda item

Report ES19010

Members received an update on the food waste recycling campaign.

Although L B Bromley achieved its Environment Portfolio Plan ambition to recycle 50% of household waste in 2017/18 (with the borough ranked second highest in London for household recycling), its recycling rate has plateaued in recent years and the amount of waste produced per household has risen.

The food waste recycling scheme has also seen collected food waste decrease by 19% over the previous five years.

Sending food waste for disposal rather than composting costs £69 per tonne more under the current contract (at 2018/19 prices). On average, over the previous four years, the reduction in food waste recycled (510 tonnes) generates an additional £35k disposal cost per year. The 2016 Waste Composition Analysis indicated that 28% of non-recyclable refuse comprises food waste.

To build on the Food for Thought Campaign, a targeted engagement exercise was commissioned to motivate and re-energise residents to recycle more food. Following a successful funding bid to Resource London, L B Bromley was awarded £14.5k to develop campaign materials for the exercise.

Food waste tonnage and non-recyclable refuse analysed over a two week period in April 2018 identified areas with the lowest amount of food waste collections and the highest amount of non-recyclable refuse. Each lowest performing collection round was reviewed against housing types and local factors to ensure that no external factors might limit use of the scheme. The 21 collection rounds identified as lowest performing - covering 16 wards and 23,000 households - were selected for targeted engagement activity and details were tabled for Members as an appendix to Report ES19010.

A door step campaign of the 23,000 households was undertaken in October and November 2018 with communication materials distributed as well as a free roll of 50 food waste liners to 5,000 households in the four lowest performing food waste collection rounds. Additional borough-wide communication materials included:

·  Press release

·  Article in Environment Matters

·  Social media coverage

·  JC Decaux banners in Bromley High Street

·  Vehicle panels (for display on recycling vehicles from mid-February) 

All 23,000 households received campaign materials and 41% received face-to-face engagement on the food waste service.

Indicative results show that participation in the scheme increased by 2.5% following the campaign. The amount of food waste collected in December 2018 was 5% higher compared to the amount collected in December 2017. Further data analysis will look to see whether the increase can be fully attributed to the campaign and whether it will be sustainable over time. Building on the campaign, officers are reviewing how to continue working with residents to increase recycling and decrease waste management costs e.g. use the analysis of recycling and waste tonnages across different areas to generate a campaign competition between different parts of the borough.

For flats, recycling provision has a focus on dry recycling materials (with neighbourhoods working with Housing Associations) whereas the food waste campaign has more focus on kerbside collections. Blocks of flatted properties can have a compressed bin storage area and contamination can be found as a result of residents trying to recycle different (materials) from concealed areas. Participation rates are high but investment is necessary to break through to a higher level. The Portfolio Holder referred to measures by Resource London to increase participation at flats London-wide. With the borough’s new Local Plan adopted, it will also be possible to ensure that developers comply with waste and recycling requirements when designing flatted developments e.g. separate waste and recycling facilities.

Under the new contract, food waste will be collected in a separate vehicle and collection will be easier to monitor. Properly undertaken, home composting is the best solution for appropriate food waste; however, as certain food waste cannot be composted domestically there will always be a need for a food waste collection. The Vice-Chairman drew attention to not wasting food in the first instance.

On future developments, the new contract is being mobilised for waste collection and officers are working with the provider on communication plans. Food Waste recycling will continue to be advertised and promoted.

More service data will also be provided under the contract including data from collection rounds showing good and weak areas. In-cab solutions will also register a property not recycling and it will be possible to address some weaknesses in areas. The Chairman favoured the Council website including recycling data for areas e.g. a recycling “heat map” for the borough. At Churchfields Road Reuse and Recycling Centre, a Member suggested a wider slot for the site’s paper container.

RESOLVED that the food waste recycling campaign update be noted.