Decision details

The Chief Officer: Environment and Public Protection presented an update report on the 2011/12 full year landfill figures, the first quarter figures following changes to brown bin arrangements and work with Green Machine at Longshot Lane on the use and recycling of paint.

The key areas included a reflection of performance and the level of waste going to landfill which had decreased over the last three years now that 33% of waste was being converted into energy and households were throwing away less. Improvements in recycling were continuing in Bracknell.

The Environment Agency had said that street sweepings could not be converted for use as compost anymore due to possible contaminants in them but there was an ongoing debate regarding this. There were now over 13,000 brown bins registered at households in the borough. Green Machine was processing paint and selling it at an outlet at Longshot Lane which provided a good source of paint.

BFC had been encouraging people to bring in their old electrical goods, which could then be repaired and resold if possible. BFC was trying to reduce the amount of contamination in blue bins and to improve the process.

Arising from Members’ questions and comments the following points were made:

• Flats were a particular problem in relation to the contamination of blue bins as there was no single owner of the bins and this was a national problem. Refuse staff were encouraged to spot recycling contaminants and the cleaner the product the better the outcome of recycling.
• Wet leaves collected from drains were taken to landfill.
• A visit would be arranged for Panel Members to Smallmead civic amenity centre and to Green Machine at Longshot Lane, to witness the paint recycling process.