Agenda item

Report ES19034

In line with procurement and commencement of the new Environment Services Contracts for Waste Collection (Lot 2) and Street Environment (Lot 3), the following changes to the waste collection and street cleansing services will be introduced:

·  revision to the waste collection schedule to enhance service efficiency;

·  revision to the street cleansing schedule to align with the waste collection service;

·  expansion of the recycling service (black box recycling, green box recycling, and food waste) to around 800 narrow access properties alongside an every other week collection of non-recyclable refuse; and,

·  a new kerbside collection service for textiles, household batteries and small waste electrical and electronic items for houses.

With Lots 1 to 3 of the environmental services contracts awarded to Veolia ES UK Limited (Waste Disposal, Household Waste Collection & Recycling, and Street Environment), L B Bromley will be enabled to reach virtually zero waste to landfill during the contract period and will continue to be one of London’s top recycling boroughs. Within Lots 2 and 3 are proposals to maximise the efficiency of waste collection and street cleansing services by reviewing existing schedules and methodologies. New vehicles will also support a more reliable collection service and enable the new recycling services. 

The changes will deliver environmental services that:

·  are operationally efficient and cost-effective;

·  keep Bromley’s streets clean;

·  ensure waste crews are able to work together to complete scheduled collections, where unplanned events occur i.e. breakdowns;

·  improve the response to missed collections;

·  provide in-cab technology for real time information to customer services by the end of 2019;

·  are resilient and provide scope for future operational efficiencies; and,

·  encourage greater recycling and reduce non-recyclable refuse.

To help mitigate pressure from an expected increase in resident enquiries during implementation, additional resources will be provided by Veolia and within different Council service teams.

The optimised approach to waste collection (maintaining the existing frequency, containers and types of materials collected) means residents continuing to receive the same waste and recycling collection services with the same number of vehicles and crews. However, dedicated, narrower, vehicles for each material type will enable additional properties to be reached for the full range of recycling collections. With a change also to a ‘wave collection’ methodology, all collections will take place in one area of the borough on one day, enabling crews to support each other to complete scheduled collections, to improve response to any missed collections, and to enable targeted communications. A comparison between historic and proposed collection maps was appended to Report ES19034.

Waste and recycling materials will be collected from individual households on the same collection day except for garden waste which remains on existing collection schedules (due for review in early 2020). Some 74% of household collection days will be altered.

On street cleansing, Veolia created a schedule that follows waste collection so that the majority of residential roads will be swept afterwards in accordance with required street cleansing frequencies.

The communications plan for the changes includes a full range of communication channels including a direct mail letter and leaflets as well as adverts, and online and social media activity. Residents experiencing a day change will receive two separate notifications and all residents will be provided with updated calendars showing the improved recycling services and the correct collection day, including details of what recycling container to present each week. Information on the new services and collection days will also be available in detail on the Council’s website (www.bromley.gov.uk/wastenews) - this data being updated a month before the new service goes live.

Report ES19034 also provided an indicative timeline for implementing the changes with a timeframe for each key activity leading to service change in September 2019. From a risk analysis on impact, likelihood, and mitigation for a range of risks related to implementing the changes, the report also provided details of key risks and their mitigation.

The Chairman highlighted the importance of a good communications plan for rolling out the changes. All residents affected by the changes would be contacted by letter and this would be followed up with a communication to the whole borough confirming arrangements. As such, those affected by a change in collection day will receive two separate notifications. Details will also be on the Council website and social media. Communications will outline key messages such as efficiency, reliability of collections, provision of new recycling collection services and improvements to the borough’s recycling rate. For the new recycling services, new vehicles will have a cage to transport the materials.

To help reduce enquiries, the Vice-Chairman felt that communications should explain that recycling and food waste will be collected at different times on the same day due to the use of the dedicated vehicles for each material type. The Chairman and another Member suggested personalising each envelope to increase the likelihood of it being opened. However, it was intended to generically address envelopes although the subject would be highlighted; such an approach would remove any risk of the communication being forwarded on should a resident have changed address. The L B Bromley logo and ‘important information about your waste and recycling services’ would also be included on the envelope.

A British manufacturer had produced the new vehicles which are narrower and are more environmentally friendly. For battery recycling, as one of the new recycling collection services, residents should leave them in a clear bag next to their containers on their collection day. Advice would also be given by newsletter on the new recycling services with communication including examples of small electricals that can be collected. A more comprehensive list of electrical items would be provided on the Council’s website. 

A date of 16^th September 2019 was indicated for implementing the new service although this was largely driven by the Communications Plan for the service change. The new rollout proposed no change in collections from flats which is an area officers would like to review with Veolia, particularly flats above shops. However, all flats would receive a communication on the new service.

An explanation was also provided on the facilities destination for collected waste, recycled materials and paper. This included a brief outline of processes undertaken at certain facilities. Veolia finds markets for materials to be recycled and where possible sells to UK markets; however, this was not always possible as there is only demand in the UK for some materials. Officers receive a list from Veolia of the destination for materials along with confirmation of Veolia’s compliance with legislation. Materials go to a range of destinations depending on demand. For plastics, there is insufficient manufacturing in the UK to take all plastic recycling. Some plastics are recycled in the UK but the UK does not deal with others; for some plastics there might be limited UK capacity. However, all recyclables collected in L B Bromley are sent to facilities in either the UK or abroad and destinations for the materials are accredited. 

Concluding the item, the Chairman emphasised a need to land a positive message on the changes. He also referred to cleaning after collections.

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the plans to increase recycling, and preparations for the waste collection and street cleansing schedule changes, be noted and supported; and

(2)  the principles outlined be supported i.e. the project plan.