Agenda item

To receive a verbal update/presentation regarding relevant national policy, strategy and legislation; together with a draft strategy for managing household waste in Leeds in a way that meets national Simpler Recycling requirements and helps Leeds residents to reduce the amount of waste they produce that is not re-used or recycled.

The report of Chief Officer (Environmental Services) that was submitted to the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Communities) for the meeting on the 19^th of September 2024 is appended for information.

A verbal update regarding relevant national policy, strategy and legislation; together with a draft strategy for managing household waste in Leeds in a way that met national Simpler Recycling requirements and helped Leeds residents to reduce the amount of waste they produced that was not re-used or recycled was presented to the Committee.

John Woolmer, Chief Officer for Environmental Services, Communities, Housing & Environment, outlined the following information to Members:

·  Environmental services covered refuse, fly tipping, litter bins and street cleansing and managed the Leeds Household Waste and Recycling Collection Strategy.

·  The strategy had been presented in the previous week to the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board, with that reported contained in the agenda for Member’s information, which outlined the current national position for waste management, applied to the context and ongoing work within Leeds.

·  The Environment Act 2021, as agreed by Parliament, had brought new requirements for kerb side collection of glass, garden and food waste. The Act was underpinned by additional legislation and processes, including, extended producer responsibility for packaging (EPR), food waste policy and deposit return schemes (DRS) for plastic and metal beverage containers, which was also noted to potentially decrease litter. This reduced waste by changing regulations and with the incentive held at the top of the supply chain on producers, through associated fees.

·  A full update on processes were provided to Local Authorities by the Government in 2023, in attempt to create clearer, simpler waste management programmes, with additional information on ‘Simpler Recycling’ outlined in May 2024.

·  The update noted Local Authorities should focus on reducing overall waste and the number of bins provided to residents, as well as directing legislation to reduce the number of black bin collections.

·  The new legislation was clear on emphasis on co-mingling where possible and expectations for the implementation of kerb side collection of glass, metal, garden, and food waste, with specific splitting of different recyclable materials, by 2026 and DRS by 2027.

·  Leeds was in a good position in light of the forthcoming changes and future models, as there was already a low bin count, with just black, green and brown. Leeds had the largest garden waste collection within the UK, with 60% of houses having a brown bin, free of charge.

·  Glass was now collected at kerb side within green bins as on the 1^st of August 2024, with initial success as a proof of concept. 700 tonnes of glass had been collected in August, with 80% suitable for remelting, this was above the current national target of 72%.

·  A contract had been procured with HW Martin to implement their glass collection technology infrastructure, which had been successful. Current data forecast that 8,500 tonnes of glass was to be collected per year, but it was hoped to increase further, as well as the remelt percentage.

·  The next steps, prior to Government funding agreements, for the strategy was exploring options for food waste processes, with agreement from the Executive Board. An interim method for food waste in brown bins was under consideration, with expanded brown bin provision and collection frequency for residents, which would also reduce overall black bin wastage.

·  Influencing people’s approach to waste and recycling was a good approach prior to Government funding agreements when viable reviews could take place.

During the discussions the following matters were considered:

·  The logistical processes for the interim proposals for the food waste brown bin trial were queried. In response it was outlined that examples from other Council’s currently collecting food waste had been explored and options were to provide separate biodegradable bags and kitchen caddies for food waste as well as composting. It was also noted that dealing with household food waste was a personal decision for residents.

·  With glass collected from green bins, data displaying the effect on black bins and bottle banks needed around 3 months to outline reliable trends. In November 2024 an update was anticipated for accurate statistics for the new glass collection model, glass remelt and recycling, glass put in bottle banks, as well as black bin composition analysis.

·  Work to address issues of glass still being placed in black bins, and not green bins or bottle banks, was to be targeted, with Members engagement encouraged.

·  Whether additional allowances were going to be made for brown bins, given the impact on capacity food waste proposals would have, was queried. In response this was to be reviewed as part of the proposal, however, it was noted there were other options for additional garden waste, including composting and household waste tip sites. There was an option of charging for a second brown bin.

·  The brown bin proposals were an interim approach to food waste collection prior to mandated legislation for weekly food waste collection and all options were still under consideration and review, with clarity of funding needed prior to any decision.

·  Information for the purpose of brown bin provision needed to be clearer. Free garden waste collection was a good offer and was a service to assist with garden waste as opposed to collection of all garden waste.

·  It was confirmed that, given the additional impact on capacity glass had on green bins, there was the ability for residents to request additional green bins but certain criteria for recycling needed to be met. Contact details to access this offer were to be provided to Members.

·  Without access to a car, residents were limited in their ability to travel to household waste sites to drop off excess garden waste. Options for residents to pay for second brown bin provision were to be explored.

·  Despite green bin glass collection, bottle banks were to be retained as long as they were needed. Emerging data noted bottle bank usage was to drop off, but bottle banks were cost neutral due to not requiring a sorting process but may be reviewed on a site by site basis. If a low amount of glass collection was recorded at a carpark bottle bank site, removing some bottle banks would free up carparking space.

·  With 80% of glass suitable for remelt, the reasons for some glass being unsuitable for remelt were outlined as contamination and size and quality of the glass pieces. A video showing the process was available online and an offer of a site visit to the processing facility was extended to Members.

·  The proposed food waste models had been developed in liaison with industry experts which allowed for carbon impacts and carbon savings to be forecast. There were difficulties in providing accurate carbon saving figures prior to the procurement of contracts and market response.

·  There were various options to consider for food waste proposals, including processing models, and brown bin collections would be changed to once per week only if they were selected to include food waste.

·  It was requested that an update regarding glass being incorrectly placed in the black bin was available to inform public communications, when it became available. This was agreed to be provided by Officers.

·  There was support offered by Members for the brown bin option for forthcoming food waste proposals.

RECOMMENDED – That the update, along with Members comments, be noted.