Issue - meetings

To receive results of the Waste Satisfaction Survey.

The Panel received a presentation from Janet Dowlman, Head of Environmental Services in respect of the results of the Bracknell Forest Waste Satisfaction Survey and Waste Collection Analysis by the re3 waste disposal partnership.

A Waste Satisfaction Survey was undertaken in November 2009 in response to the poor waste satisfaction results of the Place Survey 2008 to help the department obtain a clear understanding of residents’ perceptions and to identify key areas of dissatisfaction and any barriers to recycling.

It was thought that the reasons for the poor results were; that Longshot Lane was closed, it had only been 2 years since refuse collection had changed from weekly to fortnightly and separate boxes were used for paper and card.

Improvements that had taken place since the Place Survey in 2008 included; Comingled collections of Kerbside recyclables from December 2008, the redeveloped Longshot Lane facility fully opened from July 2009 and improvements to recycling bring sites.

Key results from the survey and comparisons with the 2008 survey were:

• From 3,500 surveys issued in both cases, there was a response rate of 47% in 2008 compared with 46% in 2009.
• Overall satisfaction with refuse collection had increased from 55% to 70%.
• The perception the refuse collection had got worse over the last 3 years had fallen from 47% to 23%.
• 91% of respondents used the Council’s kerbside collection to recycle, with 82% satisfied with the service.
• 62% thought Longshot Lane had improved over the last 3 years.
• 49% thought recycling sites had improved over the last 3 years.
• 28% thought garden waste collection had improved with 42% indicating it had stayed the same.

Conclusions drawn from the survey were that overall levels of recycling in Bracknell Forest were good with kerbside recycling having a high level of satisfaction. Further information about specific items that could or could not be recycled was needed as results showed respondent satisfaction and participation was linked with information available. There was greater satisfaction with refuse collection than in 2008.

A joint Waste Analysis was undertaken in October / November 2009 with re3 partners using MEL research to analyse residual waste for recyclables, contamination of kerbside recycling, bags of waste taken to Longshot Lane, street sweepings and litter bin waste.

Acorn Groups were used to compare the waste analysis with the socio demographics in the borough. Key trends highlighted from the analysis included:

• There was a high level of garden waste in residual bins, particularly in Acorn 1 – wealthy achievers.
• There was a high level of paper and cardboard in residual bins, particularly in Acorn 5 – hard pressed.
• There was a high level of contaminated glass in recycling containers particularly in Acorn groups 3 – comfortably off, and 4 – moderate means.
• The waste generated across all groups had dropped by 7.4% between 2007/08 and 2008/09 and was predicted to drop again for 2009/10.

Analysis of street sweepings and litter bins showed that 36% of litter bin waste was recyclable and 87% of street sweepings were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55