Agenda item

The Committee considered the report presented by the Business Manager Transport & Waste Services, which provided the Committee with an analysis of the collection service and set out proposals for future development.

The council currently collected household waste that did not fit in the household bin through two routes. The first used a box van equipped with a tail lift to collect electrical items including fridges and freezers. These were taken to the Household Waste Recycling Centre where they were passed on for recovery.  Other bulky items were collected using a refuse collection vehicle and were taken with the household refuse for incineration.  The service collected over 4300 bulky items and 1410 electrical items in 2018/19.  A study was already underway to look at the possibilities of implementing a re-use scheme for many of the items collected through these services in council properties.

Questions had been raised about whether charging for Excess waste collection encouraged fly tipping. Comparisons were made with three local authorities who collected excess waste free of charge, to see if there was a significant variation in the quantity of fly tipped waste or in its composition which was detailed in Appendix A to the report.  The analysis showed that a free collection did not result in a reduction in fly tipping there were significant number of factors involved in fly tipping which was a crime that did not follow geographical boundaries. Some of Newark and Sherwood’s best features such as its rural nature combined with great transport links unfortunately made it an ideal area in which to fly tip waste. 

The report detailed the review of charges and proposals.

Members commented that more publicity regarding bulky waste should be undertaken using the Councils magazine ‘Voice’ and leaflet drops informing the community what can be recycled such as batteries and how that can be achieved.  It was also commented that small independent traders should be allowed to register to use household collection centres which may reduce fly tipping; this should be raised with Veolia.  It was suggested that a periodic bulky waste collection should be undertaken in targeted areas.  It was also commented that the days of action should be planned well in advance in order for communities to be fully engaged.  It was suggested that the Council work with the retailer to coordinate the disposal of white goods, although the Business Manager Transport & Waste commented that due to the amount of white goods being purchased this may be difficult to achieve.

Members commented on the recent prosecution and current prosecution taking place regarding fly tipping and asked if that could be disseminated into the community to act as a warning that action was taken for this crime.

AGREED           (unanimously) that:

(a)                Newark & Sherwood do not progress with a “free of charge”                      bulky waste service at this time;

(b)                the bulky waste and white goods charges are altered in line                       with the proposals in 5.3 of the report;

(c)                the provision of free bulky waste days are trialled in selected                     areas and are dovetailed with the next 3 Days of Action being              planned in 2020; and

                  (d)        some of the current Cleaner, Safer, Greener budget is utilised                    to fund the additional promotion of the bulky waste service.