Agenda item

This report proposes a revised waste collection calendar, for implementation in April 2017, as part of an initiative to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the city’s recycling arrangements.

Resolved:

i)      That the revised calendar be approved.

ii)       That the communications strategy, to inform residents about the changes, be approved.

iii)      That an update report on actions to tackle current levels of vehicle downtime leading to co-mingling of recyclables (on vehicles not already programmed to be replaced by the purchase of replacement vehicles) be produced for a future Environment Member Decision Session.

iv)     That the inclusion of areas within York, which had not previously received garden waste collections, be examined in the future phases of this programme.

v)      That plans be prepared for a further Community Recycling Fund to promote recycling in the year 2017/18.

vi)     That the delivery of the 2016/17 winter edition of the waste and recycling calendar to households be reviewed.

vii)     That an online list of areas covered by Phase 1 be uploaded onto the council website to enable residents to check in advance whether they were/were not affected by the changes.

viii)    That a watching brief be maintained on vehicle technology to assist with the council’s ambition to improve air quality.

Reason: To improve the efficiency of York’s household waste collection service and in particular the roll out of recycling collections to rural areas of the city.

The Executive Member considered a report that proposed a revised waste collection calendar for implementation in April 2017.

Officers gave an update and confirmed the proposed amendments were part of an initiative to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the city’s recycling arrangements and would offer a more even spread of the recycling service.

The Executive Member discussed each proposal in the report including the need for officers to clearly communicate the new arrangements with residents. Officers confirmed they had a communications strategy in place which would allow those affected to receive correspondence regarding their new collection arrangements and a rapid response vehicle would also be available to respond to any reports of uncollected recycling waste for a period of 12 weeks.

Ways to improve on recycling was discussed including the need to use the new compaction vehicles which would allow co-mingling to decrease bringing financial benefits and a more efficient collection service.

In answer to the Executive Members questions officers confirmed:

·        The rapid response vehicle should have the provision to separate recycling and any properties having difficulties with the new collections would be given support on an individual case.

·        All properties joining the scheme would be eligible to request newrecycling boxes, lids and nets for free, for a period of six months, subject to availability.

·        The reason for recent instances of co-mingling of recycling was due to additional vehicles being hired in, to cover vehicle breakdowns, which did not have the facility to separate recyclables resulting in co-mingled collections taking place, however recyclates were then separated at the disposal sites.

The Executive Member thanked officers for the report and agreed that any changes to the waste and recycling service should be clearly communicated with residents. He also highlighted the need for officers to continue to work on ways to minimise operation and was keen for the following additional recommendations to be considered throughout the phases of this programme.

Resolved:

i)      That the revised calendar be approved.

ii)       That the communications strategy, to inform residents about the changes, be approved.

iii)      That an update on actions to tackle current levels of vehicle downtime leading to co-mingling of recyclables (on vehicles not already programmed to be replaced by the purchase of replacement vehicles) be provided at a future Environment Member Decision Session.

iv)     That the inclusion of areas within York, which had not previously received garden waste collections, be examined.

v)      That plans be prepared for a further Community Recycling Fund to promote recycling in the year 2017/18.

vi)     That the delivery of the 2016/17 winter edition of the waste and recycling calendar to households be reviewed.

vii)     That an online list of areas covered by Phase 1 be uploaded onto the council website to enable residents to check in advance whether they were/were not affected by the changes.

viii)    That a watching brief be maintained on vehicle technology to assist with the council’s ambition to improve air quality.

Reason: To improve the efficiency of York’s household waste collection service and in particular the roll out of recycling collections to rural areas of the city.