Agenda item

Progress Report

To receive a report briefing  the re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board on progress in the delivery of the re3 Joint Waste PFI Contract.

Minutes:

The Board received a report briefing them on the progress in the delivery of the re3

Joint Waste PFI Contract. The report covered:

 

·         Re3 Partnership

·         Re3 Strategy

·         Wood

·         Paint

·         Re3Grow Composts

·         Plastic

·         HWRC User Satisfaction

·         HWRC Project

·         Commercial Vehicle Permits

·         Resources and Waste Strategy

·         Communications update

 

The Board was advised that:

 

Re3 Partnership and Strategy

 

·         Over the last 15 months the partnership had made good progress, including the implementation of the re3 strategy, kerbside wood recycling from October 2018, the introduction of pots, tubs and trays, the lotta bottle campaign and the introduction of food waste collection in Wokingham from April 2019.

 

·         Objective 3 of the re3 strategy was to progress towards 50% household waste collection. A performance table had been produced for each council which set out the indicators and targets and measured progress.

 

·         The recycling performance targets had been set by the individual Councils and will be reported throughout the period of the strategy.

 

·         Work would be undertaken on material specific data throughout the year and the indicators would help to shape future decision and give an insight on areas that required improvement.

 

·         Bracknell were meeting their kerbside target and Q1 2018/19 was an improvement on same quarter last year. Reading had not met the statutory target but recycling performance was better this year than last year, there had however been a slight reduction in kerbside recycling contamination. Wokingham – had increased the overall recycling rate but there were still some contamination issues to address. 

 

·         The recycling rate is different in summer than winter, often as a result of changes in volume of green waste.

 

·         Board Members stressed the promptness of data as timely information was critical.

 

Wood

 

·         Work was progressing with FCC for options for wood recycling. The details were being finalised with the preferred taker which was subject to trials. This could increase the recycling rate by <3.5%.

 

·         The contractor was looking for 3 year contact.

 

·         The Board was reminded that the Environment Agency was looking at wood standards but this would probably not be for the next 9 months.

 

·         The wood recycling would apply to DIY wood/Timber, not tree cuttings.

 

·         The figures at Appendix 1 didn’t stack up with figures at 5.6 in the report.  It was explained that the difference was a result of the ongoing negotiations on final terms. The correct and final figure would be clarified. 

 

Paint

 

·         Alongside the potential changes to wood there was a need to change the way paint recycling was processed.

 

·         A review was underway to see if it was possible to harden paint at the HMRCs as a number of other Local Authorities already undertake this process and it could help to deliver a significant saving on current cost of processing paint.

 

·         FCC were trialling paint hardening at two centres to ascertain cost and how to undertake the process.

 

·         A report would be brought back to the Board in January to detail both the paint sales and how the paint hardening trial had gone.

 

·         Officers will explore whether paint could be sold from the re3 Recycling Centres, similar to sales of re3Grow compost.

 

Compost

 

·         Sales of compost went well this year. All 2000 bags were sold within a month.

 

·         The compost would start to be sold in February/March, for the whole length of spring and the price would remain the same as in 2018. 

 

Plastic

 

·         The data had been circulated to the Board prior to the meeting.

 

·         Pots tubs and trays appeared to be below target levels but that was the result of the PET plastics being recycled via the same route as plastic bottles. This is a higher quality material stream and indicates the effectiveness of the re3 MRF.

 

·         There had been a notable increase in plastic recycling due to the media coverage of the issue and commitments from some retailers to produce less plastic waste. 

 

·         The public were more aware of contamination issues.

 

 

HWRC User Satisfaction

 

           The overall picture was most positive.

 

           Performance on both sites received 98% and 99 % satisfaction, which suggested that residents feel that both sites offered a good service.

 

           The majority of users tended to use the sites once a month. Officers explained that this highlights the inter-relationship between waste collection and the Recycling Centres.

 

HWRC project

 

           Detailed analysis was being undertaken regarding how and when both sites would reach capacity.

 

           Traffic count data was also being reviewed.

 

           Neither site was currently at capacity however this was being kept under review and any change would be reported to the Board. Officers explained that the tonnage capacity of the facilities as waste tonnages had fallen from over 200,000 per annum at the commencement of the contract. Current annual waste is expected to be 182,000 tonnes. The site had the capacity to take 295,000 tonnes of waste per annum.

 

           Officers would prepare a briefing on the potential for a reuse shop at the re3 Recycling Centres.

 

           Members wanted to ensure that both sites had the ability to handle increased waste truck visits.

 

 

Commercial Vehicle Permits

 

           A postcode look-up feature was about to go live on the webform. This would allow residents to input their re3 area address accurately.

 

           Options were being investigated to follow up with frequent users that were potentially trade users posing as household waste visitors.

 

           Ingress of trade waste is a problem for many sites. Officers explained that application of the existing controls were considered to be appropriate at present.

 

           If further steps were needed, the example of other authorities and sites would be reviewed.  Warwickshire CC had additional measures in place and officers will provide a briefing on them at a future meeting.

 

           It was noted that Vale of Glamorgan operated a system similar to that employed by re3 for the retrieval of recyclable or reusable items delivered in bags to the Recycling Centres. The principal difference was that Vale of Glamorgan residents are invited to remain whilst their waste is sorted and the items which should not be disposed are highlighted. 

 

 

Resources and Waste Strategy

 

·         The EU Circular Economy Package (which introduced recycling rates of 55% by 2025) had been adopted and was therefore expected to be retained by the UK even after Brexit.

 

·         As part of the same package, producer responsibility principles were being extended. It was felt that moving towards full cost recovery would present alternative ways of funding waste management.

 

·         The chancellor had previously said that there would be taxation introduced on plastic waste. This will take the form of a potential tax on plastic items with a recycled content below 30%.

 

·         It had been reported that food waste collection may become compulsory for Local Authorities in the long term.

 

·         The Governments Waste and Resources Strategy was expected to be published before the end of 2018.

 

Communications

 

·         Raising recycling awareness, in particular plastics as this was a high engaging topic at present and there was a good story to share as re3 plastic was recycled in the UK.

 

·         Recycle week had just happened and had helped to engage residents across different levels. National and local press and media had been taken to the MRF, had received presentations and conducted interviews. Coverage in the media had been very good, and feedback was positive, with the press pleased to be invited.

 

·         re3 also recruited three residents who shared their experience of plastic recycling, the programme received national coverage and was repeated on numerous occasions.

 

·         Public tours were organised during Recycle Week, 24th – 30th September and facilitated by re3 Officers. There were five guided tours, allowing 75 people to attend (80% attended). Residents visiting the MRF facility were shown a presentation that helped them to understand the importance of recycling and the sorting process. All tours also included Q&A. Feedback following the tours was very positive.

 

·         The tours had been eye opening, with the public enjoying seeing the process. Future tours will be arranged. 

 

·         A social media campaign using localised images had worked well. More were being prepared.

 

·         There had been a 260% increase in social media followers since 2018. Councils were also now sharing re3 content, and re3 is producing specific content for each council for sharing on their individual pages also.

 

·         Advertising was going to be introduced on digital screens and reading buses, similar to the adverts in the council magazines.

 

·         The Re3cycolpedia app had been launched. Key features included searching for waste items and finding recycling sites. So far there had been over 600 downloads of the App.

 

·         On the 10 September the new glass collection vehicles were presented as part of the glass campaign. These had been named Kate Binslet and Jar Jar Clinks.

 

·         The food waste adverts had been included in the Primary Times magazine, this had been sent to all primary children.

 

·         Email banners were being used to promote recycling. It is hoped that the respective waste collection teams and even re3 Councillors could use the themed signatures, for a period of time, in future.

 

·         A new re3 logo was being developed by officers which highlighted the partnership of the three councils - “working together with you” was the new possible strapline on the logo.

 

·         Foil advertising was underway which was in cooperation with Alupro. A campaign relating to fast food takeaways would commence in December.

 

·         Central Berkshire Recycling had been picked as a case study on the G20 Global infrastructure Hub website. The link to the website would be sent to Board Members.

 

·         The re3 Marketing and Communications Officer has attended meetings with Wokingham Borough Council team and WRAP to provide communications support that would help introduce a food waste collection in Wokingham Borough. It was requested that this communication be shared with the Board.

 

RESOLVED that

 

i.          Members note the contents of the report.

 

ii.         Members support the planned paint hardening trial and seek a further report to the JWDB in January 2018 as described at 5.14 of the re3 Strategic Waste Manager’s report.

 

iii.        Members agree for the second batch of 6,000 bags of re3Grow compost to be produced using the same method as utilised for the first.

 

iv.        Members receive a further report on research into the requirements and potential benefits of a reuse shop as described at 6.18 of the re3 Strategic Waste Manager’s report.

 

v.         Members agree the proposed times of closure for the Household Waste Recycling Centres over Christmas and New Year 2018/19 as described at 6.30 of the re3 Strategic Waste Manager’s report.

Supporting documents:

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk