Agenda item

To consider report OSC/325 of the Chair of the Waste and Recycling Scrutiny Panel.

The Commission considered report OSC/325 of the Chair of the Waste and Recycling Scrutiny Panel, Councillor Russell. A Notice of Motion at Full Council in October 2023 proposed setting up a Scrutiny Panel to examine and seek to improve Crawley’s household waste recycling rate, taking into account the differing challenges the Borough had in comparison to other areas. A Waste and Recycling Scrutiny Panel was subsequently established in February 2024 to look at how household waste recycling rates in Crawley could be improved.  Alongside consideration of options to improve recycling performance, the National Waste and Resources Strategy, Simpler Recycling, was launched in October 2023 and amongst other proposals, confirmed that waste collection authorities will be obliged to move to a separate weekly food waste collection with effect from April 2026. Within this context, a focus for the panel was to consider the efficacy and impact of different collection regime options open to the Council in implementing the National Waste Strategy.

The Panel wished to consider how to maximise impact while recognising budget constraints and the demographic and social economic context which typically influences recycling behaviour and performance. Within this context, the Panel sought to “ find ways to understand impediments to recycling in the borough and also consider ways to inform residents/customers of proposed changes to waste collection and incentivise to maximise levels of recycling”. 

During the discussion with the Chair of the Panel, Councillor Russell, and Lead Officers (Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services and the Partnership Services Manager) the Commission raised the following comments:

·         It was recognised that recycling within blocks of flats presented a number of challenges. There was currently an audit being undertaken for each block of flats/communal area to determine the specifics, availability, options and opportunities as understanding the current environment was key. The Council worked in partnership with WSCC (as the waste disposal authority) to ensure regional communication, along with that on a local level. 

·         Whilst research had been undertaken on the use of ‘smart sacks’ in other areas for recycling material, these authorities did not have wheeled bins unlike Crawley. It was determined that providing a constant supply of bags would create more plastic waste, logistical delivery problems and increase supply costs. 

·         Clarification was sought and obtained with regards to nappy and sanitary product disposal in a hygienic way.

·         Confirmation was provided as to measures for dealing with contamination within recycling bin.

·         Further discussion took place on the proposed roll out of bins and it was acknowledgement that any rollout to varying property type should be a phased approach.  It was noted that ensuring bins that were not oversized would be important in encouraging residents to ‘reduce’ waste in preference to recycling. 

·         It was recognised that clear, strong communications regarding recycling and any proposed changes would be key in order to incentivise and encourage residents to increase recycling and minimise food waste and there were many different communication channels.  It was acknowledged that as with any change it would take a while to adapt.

·         The Commission amended recommendation 2.2b) to ‘recycling and waste’ in order to mirror the proposed changes in 2.2a, in which the website had been re-named ‘Recycling and Waste’, in order to place recycling at the forefront and thus refocus priorities.

RESOLVED

That the Commission noted the report and requested that the views expressed during the debate, including the amended recommendation, were fed back to the Cabinet through the Commission’s Comment sheet.