Agenda and minutes

Councillor Moira-Anne Grainger

Councillor Sarah Millar

Julie Lewis (Head of Environmental and Operational Services – Stratford District Council) has been substituted by Craig Bourne

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A member attending a meeting where a matter arises in which they have a disclosable pecuniary interest must (unless ?they have a dispensation):

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Non-pecuniary interests relevant to the agenda should be declared at the commencement of the meeting.

The public reports referred to are available on the Warwickshire Web https://democracy.warwickshire.gov.uk/uuCoverPage.aspx?bcr=1

None.

None.

The notes were approved as an accurate record.

Andrew Pau highlighted the following points:

• These were provisional performance numbers for 2021-22
• In 2020/2021 the figures were move away from previous trends due to Covid, so 2021/2022’s figures again reflect the challenges of the second year of Covid-19 and well as operational issues relating to staffing
• The collection authorities now all charge for green waste collection except WDC, which impacted composting figures
• Recycling tonnage was down and the rate was 48.3% for the year. People are still working from home, creating more waste compared to 2019 and before
• The Coventry & Solihull Energy from Waste facility was closed for three weeks due to major infrastructure investment, this was planned but this impacted the landfill figures, as some kerbside residual waste could not go to energy from that waste and had to go to landfill
• As much residual waste as possible is currently being sent to recovery - energy from waste facilities
• The total amount of household waste reduced by 1.4% compared to 2020/21
• The national data would be available to compare against Warwickshire data at a future Waste Partnership meeting
• 56.1% was the household waste recycling centre recycling performance

Dan Green suggested that the next report have figures from the previous five years so they would be able to see what was affected by the pandemic. The Chair concurred with this.

In response to several queries from Councillor Ian Shenton, Andrew Pau stated that the Council had landfill contracts with minimum tonnages these are mainly fulfilled with waste from the household waste recycling centres (HWRC). The plan is for residual waste from the kerbside to go to energy recovery where possible. We share an Energy from Waste contract at W2R with Staffordshire; the WCC allocation was maxed out tonnage-wise and there are penalties for going over. The Coventry Energy from Waste contract was slightly more flexible. Tonnages from Stratford and Warwick were being closely monitored because of their waste service changes. 2021 had several waste challenges with staff strikes, staff shortages and sickness, in some cases green waste collections and kerbside collections were suspended to collect residual waste. 

Ruth Dixon highlighted the following points:

• The study was carried out in March 2022 and looked at kerbside waste (residual/green)
• The non-recyclable materials in the general waste was approx. 38%
• Ideally kerbside residual waste should be 100% non-recyclable as this is sent to energy recovery or landfill
• 1/6 of this material should have been in the kerbside recycling bin
• More could be done to education the public on what goes in which bin
• 1/3 of all waste in the general waste bin was recyclable food waste that could have gone into the green garden bin or been home composted
• A lot of social media/promotional work has been done on reducing food waste and to not generate avoidable food waste
• The separate weekly food waste collection being implemented in Stratford and Warwick should encourage people to recycle more and produce less food waste as they will see how much they waste
• 1/6 of waste collected kerbside in the general waste bin was HWRC recyclable material 
• Waste collected from the green bins (biowaste) was rarely contaminated; most contamination was soil/turf
• Pet bedding should go in the green bin
• Food waste in the green waste bin increased from 8% in 2018 to 14% in 2022
• There was a similar proportion of food waste in the kerbside bin when compared to the 2018 survey, in addition to the extra food waste in the green bin which implied that people were generating more food waste than they used to. Food price rises could decrease this.

In response to Councillor Tim Sinclair, Ruth Dixon said that the did not have national information on waste composition, but NAWDO (a waste disposal authority national body) does sometimes collect this information from authorities. This had not been done recently because of Covid-19. The strongest county-wide incentive for improving waste recycling was the ‘Slim Your Bin’ programme that asked people to sign up and report on their recycling weekly. As part of the programme residents say what they recycled at the kerbside/at HWRCs, and higher performing individuals could win vouchers. Residents are given weekly prompts to log what they have done. Penalising residents for not recycling was not a permissible alternative.  Andrew Pau added that not every local authority carries out composition analysis and if they did they may have different benchmark criteria, but it is thought that most authorities would have similar composition. 

Dan Green suggested comparing the data from 2022 with the 2018 data and also sharing what it was costing the public so this would influence them to separate it themselves. The climate cost and carbon cost could be shared too. Dan Green noted that when food waste gets collected separately in Stratford and Warwick then the public would need to be re-educated to not put it in the green bin.

Councillor Shenton pointed out that Wales have showed how much money and carbon was saved by recycling instead of disposal.

In response to Dan Green, Ruth Dixon stated that Warwick and Stratford will collect small electrical  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

• At HWRCs, half of all waste that ended up in residual waste skips were correctly segregated as non-recyclable
• Better segregation of wood and furniture might be improved with better skip control
• 16% of textiles and shoes ended up in the residual waste skip when designated containers for these are available at the HWRCs, more needs to be done to divert this recycling; the new collection services in Stratford and Warwick will include a kerbside textile collection which might assist in capturing more textiles for recycling
• There was not a lot of food waste in the HWRC residual waste
• Signage and staff training could be improved
• Less physical help was provided to the public on site at the HWRCs compared to 2018 so this could mean more items have ended up in the wrong skip

There could have been an operational reason why the survey showed textiles as a high figure and communication was taking place to see if this was the case.

Andrew Pau noted that giving the public quick and easy access to recycling was one way to improve performance. Once all WCAs have received their data Andrew Pau proposed that officers get together as a group to talk about what the results show.

Rugby

Dan Green informed the partnership that the industrial action in Rugby was resolved. The strike was caused by Unite’s dissatisfaction with the local government pay awards, which was not a local issue. Some staff were redeployed to ensure that residual waste collection continued. Recycling and garden waste collections had to be suspended, but Warwickshire County Council supported RBC at HWRCs by providing a container for mixed dry recyclables so residents could bring their recycling there. Unite ended the strike after an agreement was made to re-evaluate roles in accordance with pay and conditions as extra tasks have been added since the last review. Work was being done to recycle the backlog of recyclable waste caused by the strike. Dan Green reported that there had been a high sickness rate following the strike and so this was taking longer than expected.

RBC is liaising with WRAP regarding support from them to review and design their waste collection scheme. By the end of the support RBC will have had a detailed look at their collection regimes, including frequency and bin size, and food waste collection. Dan Green said he would share this review with the other authorities as requested.

Rugby’s climate strategy consultation is live and will run for a six-weeks.

Discussions with the other councils will be had around transport/vehicle movements and shifting fleet to lower carbon alternatives. One section will be on waste resources in a circular economy i.e. how to buy less, reuse and repair more.

Stratford

Nothing to add.

North Warwickshire

Richard Dobbs informed the partnership that North Warwickshire’s climate change strategy was recently sent out for consultation.

The MRF (materials recycling facility) was progressing well and issues raised with the contractor were resolved. The equipment for the MRF was due to arrive for installation in late summer/early autumn 2022. It was on target to open in summer 2023 despite price rises and shortages in materials. Members of the group could visit the MRF after the first construction phase is completed. Richard Dobbs informed the group they could visit the Sherbourne Recycling website to check on progress and view a time lapse video.

Warwick

Zoe Court informed the partnership that they had sold 10,000 green waste collection subscriptions. The new service will go live on the 1^st August 2022, the Council will distribute bin hangers on the last free collection. Claire Preston suggested caution with bin hangers as some designs can create litter. Zoe Court noted that the initial communication with the new system received minimal backlash.

Food caddies started being delivered on the 13^th June 2022 and the new recycling bin delivery would start the week beginning the 20^th June. 1-2-3 roadshows will start to advise residents of the new system, and this will start in the Market Square in Warwick.

Nuneaton & Bedworth

Nothing to add.

Craig Bourne highlighted the following points:

• ‘123 +’ is the new weekly food waste collection, a fortnightly dry recycling collection, a three weekly residual waste collection, the ‘+’ is a subscription-based garden waste service
• Stratford have had a garden waste collection subscription service since April 2021 with just over 45,000 residents signed up
• The new bins and caddies were being delivered at the time of the meeting. Most of the food waste caddies had been delivered in Stratford
• Textiles, household batteries and small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment would be collected kerbside
• Food waste will be delivered to Burton Farm HWRC in Stratford and Princes Drive HWRC in Leamington; this will go to Northwick Power in Morton in Marsh
• A new app called Cloud 9 will allow residents to report missed collections and to see when their next collection was due. They'll get a push notification on when this is
• There had been issues around the availability of vehicles and vehicle parts due to the war in Ukraine. However, everything was on track for the 1^st August
• The new service should increase recycling rates

Councillor Sinclair suggested being clearer with the benefits of ‘1-2-3+’ as a lot of residents he spoke to said they were unhappy that their tax increased, but their waste was being collected less.

In response to Councillor Sinclair, Craig Bourne stated that any residences that permanently had six or more occupants, two or more children in disposable nappies, or with a relevant medical need get an extra 140L residual waste bin to deal with extra waste. There were FAQs and information in communications on bin washing and other things to avoid attracting pests. Craig Bourne confirmed that this would be evaluated after implementation. The Chair added that Julie Lewis had done this scheme in her old authority so they were aware of what to expect; extra capacity would be provided where needed.

In response to Claire Preston, Craig Bourne confirmed that they will not provide liners for the caddies; there was no negative backlash because of this in Daventry.

Councillor Margaret Bell said that when they suspended green bins earlier than planned in North Warwickshire there was a lot of public backlash because this service was one that residents paid for. Craig Bourne said customers would be made aware that collection services would be suspended for one week between Christmas and New Year.

In response to Richard Dobbs, Zoe Court said that the new app will go live in the last two weeks of July. Rugby Borough also used the Cloud 9 app.

Andrew Pau highlighted the following points:

• After a tendering process, Northwick Power was awarded the contract and they are within 5 miles of Warwickshire in Chipping Campden, on a country estate at the bottom of a quarry
• It was one of the first commercial plants of its kind and started in 2010
• They produce about 5.5 megawatts of gas. In a combined heat and power plant they burn the gas on site to produce electricity. They use some of the electricity on site and they use the heat generated on site too. They have other plant which cleans the gas and puts it onto the gas grid.
• Most of their feedstock was commercial food waste in liquid form and solid food waste from restaurants. This new LA contract will be their first kerbside household collection contract.
• They process 70,000 tonnes of waste now, but they can accept 120,000 tonnes of food waste. This would cover Warwickshire as a whole (roughly 20,000 tonnes) as well as any future trade waste
• The digestate they produce is pass 110 accredited digestate, which can be spread to farmland. It is used on about 4000 hectares of farmland locally on the Northwick estate which is done without vehicles
• They support engineering apprentices through the Warwickshire College Group
• They now plan to invest £750,000 into developing improved de-packaging for processing capacity. This will go into the commissioning phase soon

A video on the digestion process was shown

In response to the Chair, Andrew Pau stated that waste packaging they receive goes to the incinerator for energy recovery.

Craig Bourne thanked Andrew Pau for the WCC waste teams’ work done to secure the Northwick Power contract.

Ruth Dixon said that on the 9^th June a medium level government officer spoke to a group of people in waste management and local authorities regarding the waste strategy. An update on the deposit return scheme (DRS) and consistency aspects is expected soon. The feedback on the extended producer responsibility was provided in March 2022. The consistency aspect should say what local authorities must/must not do and what they can choose to do. In the summer there will be another technical consultation.

Ruth Dixon highlighted the following points:

• Central government released a short national consultation asking for feedback regarding DIY/construction waste collected at HWRCs.
• Some local authorities charge the householder/trader for all DIY/Construction waste for example by charging per item
• The government plan to amend the Controlled Waste Regulations 2012 to state that small-scale DIY waste should not be chargeable at a HWRC
• Warwickshire have a limit of free deposit of hardcore and plasterboard (75 kilos/three sheets once a month) which would cover a small refurbishment including knocking down a small wall or replacing some tiles
• Traders should incorporate waste disposal in their prices
• Central government are suggesting that the free limit should be more like 300 litres/a full car boot in an average car once a week
• This would not be classed as a ‘new burden’, so the local authorities would need to bear this additional cost
• Warwickshire were formulating a response to the consultation that will be shared with the district and borough councils
• Within that consultation there is also a call for evidence on booking systems, asking for information on does the authority have a booking system, future expectations, will they keep it etc.
• The consultation will end on the 4^th July

In response to Councillor Katheryn Lawrence, Ruth Dixon said it would be difficult to confirm whether places who have these charges for DIY cause fly tipping because this waste could be caused by several factors. It was inexpensive for councils to dispose of rubble and hardcore as it is reused. Plasterboard treatment is expensive.

Andrew Pau added the system WCC has in place for DIY waste was easy and inexpensive. Warwickshire’s main concerns was the increase to 300l and the mixture of what could be disposed.

Ruth Dixon is leading on the production of the response and will draft and circulate for officers to agree. If the Partnership cannot agree a response, then individual responses may be sent. All the evidence gathered regarding Warwickshire’s booking system will be shared as part of the response to central government.

Andrew Pau noted that the satisfaction survey on the booking system was varied with Lower House Farm in Dordon being the most satisfied at 84%; half the people who used this HWRC came from Staffordshire. The least satisfied was Wellesbourne at 57%. The Chair noted that Wellesbourne’s HWRC had their days reduced as it was quieter so this could have affected their satisfaction rate. The HWRC reuse shop at Wellesbourne (operated by Age UK Coventry and Warwickshire) planned to open seven days a week. Hunters Lane in Rugby had their opening hours extended sometimes, because it was fully booked so frequently.

Councillor Sinclair thanked Andrew Pau for sharing the breakdown of satisfaction per HWRC.

The Chair and Councillor Bell noted that the new app and being able to book your visit on the day was a better system and more popular.

In response to Councillor Bell, the Chair noted that the booking system enabled them to see whether a time period would be busy or not, so maximum staff would not be needed. Andrew Pau added that residents were used to the booking system, HWRCs rarely had staff manning the entrance. If it was quiet enough, people without appointments would not be turned away as a one off.

Ruth Dixon said that all larger sites (all but Stockton, Shipston and Wellesbourne) had trailer booking slots daily.

In response to Councillor Shenton, Andrew Pau said that the booking system worked well at Burton Farm. Sites were busiest in the morning. All sites had late night opening on Wednesday but this was quiet countywide. Visitor numbers to HWRCs reduced by 50% of pre-pandemic levels but waste being accepted was 90% of pre-pandemic levels. This meant less visits with the same amount of waste.

The Chair said that she had a ready response was available for councillors who had residents who were unhappy with the booking system. Cllrs should request this as required.

The Chair concluded that the booking system was essential while refuse workers were on strike in Rugby.

Andrew Pau informed the partnership that waste management has a major impact on climate change. WCC’s scope one and two emissions may be 10-20% of its total emissions. Scope three (contracted in services) is 80% of the council’s own emissions.

Ruth Dixon added that:

·       A draft high level strategy document will to go to senior leaders at WCC in July this would be worked into a full strategy for members in early autumn

·       There will be presentations from the consultants as well as a document and further review and then a final published report like North Warwickshire’s and Rugby’s saying WCC’s plan for the next five years

·       There will be an action plan associated with this that will be updated annually and cover four elements: WCC’s internal emissions to be net zero carbon by 2030, Warwickshire’s emissions working in partnership with other organisations/individuals within the county to get to net zero by 2050, increase Warwickshire’s biodiversity and linking all this to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

·       All these elements are in the latest Council Plan

·       The consultants had been in conversation with waste to get a clear picture of how waste in Warwickshire works, particularly from an carbon accounting point of view and the relationship/responsibilities between all of Warwickshire’s councils

The Chair concurred that costings with this were important to monitor.

Waste Management Performance Data Comparison (2017-22)

28^th September 2022

7^th December 2022