Agenda item

To brief the re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board on the Partnership’s communications activities.

The Board received a report briefing them on the Partnership’s communications activities.

The report covered:

·       re3Grow Community Compost scheme

·       Contamination awareness

·       Vapes recycling

·       Recycling Centres inclusion campaign

·       Safety at HWRCs campaign

·       Anti-litter campaign

Monika Bulmer, e3 Communications and Marketing Officer, detailed the re3grow community compost scheme which was directed at local organisations and

schools. The scheme would be promoted to the public via local news outlets, social media, newsletters, and directly to potential beneficiaries. The press release and social media assets were currently being prepared and would be available to use by the councils’ communications officers. There had been 69 beneficiaries last year, with over 160 bags distributed.

Re3Grow compost had commenced at the end of February, which was now in its fifth year. A new poster, promoting its features had been produced and would be displayed at both sites. It was reported that bags had already been sold.

A set of infographics, presenting the current contamination level in each Councils’

recycling bins had been produced. It included environmental impacts and costs, and

the infographic for each council. These were included in appendix 1 of the report. Across re3, £487k could have been saved last year, if all items were sorted correctly and it was important to talk about this with residents. Officers would be receiving regular infographics.

Vape recycling had been discussed at the previous meeting and was proving to be a difficult challenge. It has been established that the majority of local vape retailers have not set up the take back schemes. Trading Standards believe this is due to lack of information in relation to their legal obligations. Suggested guidance to residents was to recycle vape pens at the Recycling Centres and not placed in rubbish bins. Monika had spoken to OPSS to seek further guidance and Trading Standards had advised it might be helpful for re3 to support retailers by contacting them and providing guidance on how to set up the take back scheme.

The online booking system webform had be enhanced by integrating translation

services for over 100 languages. This new feature would aim at improving accessibility and clarity for residents whose first language is not English. The new feature would be advertised using social media advertising, aiming at

multicultural audiences living locally. Further research and analysis would be done to map areas of low usage and to advertise the service in those areas. Target groups who were under consideration were residents who:

·       had recently moved to the area.

·       lived in rented and shared accommodation.

·       had low literacy levels.

·       had low technical skills.

·       had a disability or impairment.

·       lived in a deprived area.

re3 was taking part in the trial safety campaign launched by the FCC Environment across their four contracts. The campaign aims at reducing the number of accidents on site.

The re3 Marketing and Communications Officer presented details of an anti-litter

campaign that utilised an existing national app called LitterLotto. These incentivise

residents to pick up and dispose of litter correctly. The full scope of the campaign had not gained approval from all partnering councils, however re3 would support any council keen to trial the tool.

RESOLVED that Members note the contents of this report.