Futures Forum: Trialing new rubbish and recycling services in East Devon >>> for Feniton and Exmouth
There have been opportunities for feedback:
Shout out to Feniton residents: Have you completed your questionnaires? | Susie Bond
Views sought on extended recycling trials | The Exeter Daily
Trinitymatters.co.uk website of Cllr Ian Thomas EDDC - Uplyme Parish Magazine - November 2015 Article
Here is an interim piece from midway during the trial:
12 OCTOBER 2015by Will Date
Residual reduction prompts East Devon recycling boost
East Devon council has reported that early results from its trial to reduce residual waste collection frequency and increase recycling capacity for homes in two boroughs have seen tonnages of recycling increase.
The local authority launched the trial scheme involving around 1,800 households in Feniton and Exmouth last month (September) which sees refuse collections reduced from a fortnightly to a three-weekly schedule, and recyclables collected weekly. Food waste collections remain on a weekly basis.
Residents involved in the trial in Exmouth and Feniton have recyclables collected via a green box and bag system, as well as weekly food waste collections.
Households included in the trial can also recycle a wider range of materials such as cardboard egg boxes and toilet paper tubes as well as mixed plastics pots, tubs and trays, at the kerbside – which is collected weekly by contractor Suez. The material is collected alongside other recyclable materials including paper, plastic bottles and metal cans commingled in a green recycling box.
Containers
Residents involved in the trial have also been given a green bag to deposit any additional dry recyclables that they may not be able to fit in the box.
According to the council, tonnages of recyclable material collected have increased in the trial areas when compared to pre-trial levels.
East Devon claims that from the trial areas in Feniton, a total of around 5.2 tonnes of recyclables were collected during one week of the trial, compared to around 3.9 tonnes of material collected before the trial.
Residents have been updated on changes via tags on wheeled bins
In Exmouth, the council claims that 3.5 tonnes of recyclables were collected over one week of the trial, an increase of 1.3 tonnes when compared to pre-trial levels.
Commenting on the results, councillor Iain Chubb, the council’s portfolio holder for the Environment, said: “Householders across East Devon have been asking us to help them recycle more and waste less for some time now and I’m hoping these trials will help us understand the practicalities of how we can meet their needs, benefit our environment and ensure the service we provide is economically viable.”
Quality
The council has yet to provide any details of the quality of the recyclable material produced during the trial, and whether or not there has been a spike in contamination caused by a restriction on the available capacity for residual waste at the kerbside.
Critics of reduced frequency collection systems have questioned whether the measure is a suitable tool to increasing recycling rates, if it leads to higher contamination levels from non-recyclable materials at the kerbside.
Recyclables from East Devon are sent to a materials recycling facility (MRF) operated in the borough by Suez at the Greendale Business Park for sorting and separation.
Suez, previously SITA UK, has carried out waste and recycling collections on behalf of East Devon council since 2006. The council is trialling new collection arrangements ahead of the end of its current contract, which is due to expire in March 2016.
The council has stated that, if successful, the modified arrangements could be extended across the district from next year.
The trials have gone very well. Here is an overview of the consultation:
New Feniton and Exmouth (The Colony) trials
New Feniton and Exmouth (The Colony) trials - East Devon
The results of the trial will be presented to the Scrutiny Cttee tomorrow:
‘I’m On Board’ Improved recycling trial in The Colony Exmouth & New Feniton
This report is intended to update Overview & Scrutiny on the results from the trial which has been running since mid September in The Colony Exmouth and New Feniton. The improved recycling service and reduced residual waste collection trial was agreed by Cabinet in June. The trial is being run to test the improved recycling scheme ahead of the appointment of a new recycling and waste collection contractor in June 2016.
It is hoped that this report will demonstrate to the committee that the trial has shown; through the data we have gathered, customer questionnaire feedback, customer experiences and those of our teams, that the improved recycling service with reduced residual waste collection is viable. Furthermore we hope to show that by using this method we will help our customers recycle more, improve our recycling rate to surpass the EU target of 50% by 2020, protect the environment for future generations by reducing the waste we send for disposal and provide a service which is economically viable given the council’s continuing budget constraints.
Recommendation:
1) The joint committee recognise the positive results of the trial in both The Colony & New Feniton (Increase in recycling from 37 to 55% and 41 to 58%, and respective reduction in residual waste, with only 10 service issues raised by residents.
2) Given the success of the improved recycling rate (from 39% before the trial to 56% during) Officers use the trial results to influence the evaluation of tenders for the new recycling and waste collection contract.
3) That the successful project planning and communications effort be noted and the approach replicated for any further rollout of the service change.
4) We continue the trials and maintain the monitoring and evaluation process.
Reason for recommendation:
We feel that the trial has been a great success as it has increased the average kerbside recycling rate from 39% to 56% (district rate is currently from 44%, but includes other non-kerbside arisings). The trial has resulted in a 19% reduction in residual waste being sent for disposal from 7.9 tonnes per week (before the trial) to 6.4 tonnes per week now
There had been some concern from residents and the media prior to the trial about how families would cope with the reduced residual collection frequency and also how those with nappies or incontinence pads (AHPs absorbent hygiene products) would cope. However due to the extensive communications effort and strong planning of the team, including lots of time spent in the communities, actual issues concerning bin space, smells or ability to cope that we have dealt with have only come to 10.
We did speak to some families who had concerns about nappies, but through waste minimisation advice we have managed to assist them. To date no one has taken up the offer of additional fortnightly sacked collection for nappies or AHPs or additional residual capacity for these items.
Questionaire feedback so far has been positive, we don’t yet have the detailed analysis as the closing date for receipt is 30th November
Report to Scrutiny Committee: 10 December 2015
See also:
Futures Forum: Recycling and Refuse in East Devon >>> fortnightly collection of AHP to be part of upcoming trial
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