Agenda item

Councillor Branson, Chair of the Place Scrutiny Panel, presented the Final Report on Waste Management.  The review was undertaken by the former Environment Scrutiny Panel between September 2023 and March 2024, of which he was Vice Chair at the time, and the topic now fell within the remit of the Place Scrutiny Panel.  The draft final report was considered by the Place Scrutiny Panel at an additional meeting on 23 September 2024.  Members of the former Environment Scrutiny Panel were also invited to attend that meeting and, collectively, Members formulated conclusions and recommendations for inclusion in the report.

 

The purpose of the review was to examine waste management practices, focusing on how to increase recycling rates to meet targets whilst minimising the cost of waste disposal in Middlesbrough.

 

The terms of reference for the review were set out at paragraph three of the report together with the evidence gathered by the Panel during the course of the review.

 

The Panel’s conclusions, based on the evidence gathered during the review, were detailed at page 36, paragraph 231.  In summary the Panel found that Middlesbrough was not good at recycling and had one of the highest rates of residual waste collection per person - above the regional and national average.  This was due to a number of factors including a high number of terraced properties using communal bins and not generating green waste for recycling.  There were also issues with high levels of contaminated recycling.

 

The cost of residual waste disposal had continued to increase and was set to almost double by 2026.  In comparison, disposal of recyclable waste was much cheaper, therefore, it was essential to reduce the amount of residual waste being sent for disposal and to increase recycling rates, whilst reducing contaminated recycling.

 

The Panel had also looked at fly-tipping and found that whilst it was a problem in Middlesbrough, levels were lower than in many other comparator areas.  Middlesbrough had increased its enforcement activity in recent years. 

 

During the course of discussion, the following issues were raised:-

 

·         A Member of the Board welcomed the report and was happy to support the recommendations but noted that it largely related to residential waste and not public waste/waste bins.  The Chair of Place Scrutiny Panel advised that as waste management was such a broad topic, this had not been considered as part of the terms of reference on this occasion.

·         Reference was made to page 35 regarding the contractual arrangements for the new wheeled bins and in response to a query it was clarified that the £1,000 each micro-chip readers for the bins had been supplied free of charge as part of the contract.

·         In relation to the £40 annual charge for green waste collections, assurances were sought that the charge would not be increased.  It was confirmed that there were no plans to increase the charge and that the Mayor had confirmed at a recent Council meeting that there would be no increase for at least two years.

·         In response to a question regarding tonnages collected using the new green waste system, the Director of Environment advised that figures were now starting to come through (as they were reported three months in arrears) and would be analysed to help identify where recycling needed to be increased.  Current take-up of green waste collections was almost 50%.

·         It was acknowledged that everyone needed to be more pro-active in terms of recycling but there was often confusion around knowing what could and could not be recycled, for example, coloured plastics.  It was highlighted that it would be impossible to provide a list of every single item that could be recycled and that manufacturers were constantly developing the use of recyclable and compostable materials, but information could be provided as far as possible.  Having a one bin system made it as easy as possible for households to recycle.

·         A Member of the Board recognised one of the core recommendations was improvement in education and acknowledging that an exhaustive list of recyclable items could not be provided, and suggested that by default, advising householders to place any items they were doubtful about in the residual waste bin so that the recycling did not become contaminated.

·         With regard to forthcoming food waste collections, it was confirmed that this would be introduced from April 2026 when it would become mandatory for Councils to provide the collection of food waste.  Work had started on ordering the vehicles and the food caddies required and Middlesbrough was working with other local councils to provide a uniform system.  This would be funded by Government.

·         The Chair referred to a recent newspaper article in relation to potential health issues linked with incinerators and queried why this was the preferred method of disposal.  The Director of Environment and Community Services responded that Middlesbrough was working with other local councils to build a new incinerator on land at Teesworks.  The process was in the final procurement stages.  This would be a modern facility also looking to use carbon capture.  The recent reports regarding health were comparing incinerators to burning coal.  Even if Middlesbrough could achieve a 50% recycling rate, it would still need a way to dispose of the remaining 50% of its rubbish and this was a much better option than sending to landfill.  The new facility would create energy and use the most modern technology possible.

 

The Board was asked to consider the Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations (page 38, paragraph 232, of the report), as follows:-

 

A)   To maximise participation in recycling, the Panel recommends that the Service area continues to work with experts in the field to develop a comprehensive communication and community engagement plan informing households about the changes that have taken place and future changes regarding all waste collections and how they can make a difference by recycling.  This should include:- 

 

i)      A video on the Council website and social media accounts showing what happens to our recycling, from collection to processing at the recycling plant, with clear information on each of the waste streams (recycling, residual, green waste and future food waste), which bin/receptacle materials should be placed in, together with details about how to access the green waste subscription service and bulky waste collections and associated charges.

 

ii)     A clear, pictorial leaflet to be distributed to households (potentially with annual Council Tax bill), and made available in public buildings (community hubs, libraries, etc) illustrating which materials can be placed in each bin, and a list of items that cannot be recycled.  This should be replicated on the Council’s website, in a prominent location, and social media accounts, and also be made available in languages other than English.

 

B)   That the Service area develops a programme of education and outreach work with key partners, volunteers, and community groups, to tackle low recycling rates, contamination and fly-tipping in hot spot areas.

 

C)   That customer satisfaction, in relation to waste collection and recycling services (including green waste collection and bulky waste collections if applicable) be monitored through the Council’s existing residents’ survey.  Feedback will assist the Service Area to monitor and evaluate outcomes such as identifying good practice and any recurrent issues.

 

D)   To review the Council’s Green Strategy and relevant policies - particularly in relation to planning and new housing developments, to ensure that recycling and waste minimisation requirements are embedded, for example, ensuring all new housing developments are designed with the space and facilities (individual properties and communal) - to encourage sustainable waste management and promote recycling.

 

E)   That the environmental enforcement work being carried out be significantly increased and that a campaign be launched within the next 12 months to raise awareness around fly-tipping and the associated penalties, including information for householders around using only licensed waste carriers.

 

F)    That the Service Area provides the Scrutiny Panel with an update on progress in relation to all the recommendations, within the next 12 months.

 

ORDERED that the conclusions and recommendations, as set out above, be endorsed and referred to the Executive.