Decision details

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet accepts and notes the recommendations from Waste and Recycling Scrutiny Panel as detailed below within the context of the Waste and Recycling: Changes to Collection Regime and Extension of Waste and Recycling Contract exempt report (HPS/045) and:

a)             approves the rename the current Council’s website link to ‘Recycling and Waste’.

b)             requests that the Cabinet Member for Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change investigate the Junior Citizen event which covers ‘waste and the environment’ to consider expanding this further to cover ‘recycling and waste’.

c)             recognises that, from other authorities’ experience, implementing a separate food waste collection service at flats presents logistical challenges and careful consideration will need to be given to support take up and participation at these properties; and authorise officers to explore the use of different collection methods for flats, including the use of reusable bags and/or “smart clear sacks”.

d)             for the majority of households, supports the continued use of a 140ltr residual waste bin and existing exceptions policy as a means of encouraging use of the separate food waste bin and recycling bins.

e)             recognises that a rollout of two or more phases may be required to take into account varying requirements of different property types, as well as balancing available resource and the lead-in time for delivery of food waste vehicles and food waste bins.

f)               approves that the waste and recycling service engages with residents as part of any changes to the service roll out including agreeing where bins will be sited where different options may exist for their placement.

g)              confirms it will investigation of the options, of separate weekly food waste collection and fortnightly residual waste collection, as supported by the Scrutiny Panel, and noting the changes proposed in the National Waste Strategy and the potential for changes to the collection regime to significantly impact upon recycling performance.

h)             approves that a clear and consistent communications campaign supports the role out of the separate food waste collection and any subsequent changes in the collection regime. As part of this messaging highlight the waste hierarchy of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ whilst ensuring that communications are easy to understand and include the message about the cost, importance of recycling to incentivise and engage residents along with contact details for bulky waste collection and fly tipping; and confirms it will consider utilising the following mediums to promote communications:

·                Wrap around signs on vehicles (as per standard approach)

·                Standard information bins (“bin hangers” as per standard approach)

·                myCrawley

·                Crawley Live

·                Early promotion in Christmas 2025 collection.

·                Council Tax billing in advance in April 2026.

·                All social media to feature notification of changes.

Reasons for the Recommendations

To investigate how household waste recycling rates in Crawley could be improved and in particular to ensure the implementation of revised collection arrangements under Simpler Recycling will help to provide a step change in recycling performance across the town.