Agenda item - Recycling Incentives and Engagement Campaign

111.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing that set out proposals for an incentive and engagement campaign to increase recycling rates.

111.2      Councillor Daniel asked if schemes implemented elsewhere in the country had been investigated and which community groups and resident associations had been consulted.

111.3      The Head of Projects & Strategy replied that general trends in the country had been examined and were referenced in the report however; it had been very difficult to find data that directly related to a similar incentive scheme. The Head of Projects & Strategy added that incentive schemes were regularly introduced in conjunction with a service change and were focussed on personal incentives rather than community incentives and were quite complex. The Head of Projects & Strategy supplemented that there had also been investigation of schemes implemented in the private sector but similarly, these had been found to be very complex and high risk. The Head of Projects & Strategy clarified that the officers had discussed the proposals with the Communities team who were also very positive to take the scheme forward but his team had not spoken directly with community or resident associations.

111.4      Councillor Daniel stated that technology in this field was continually improving and use of that option would provide much better clarification about recycling issues than what appeared to be an interim scheme with these proposals.

111.5      The Head of Projects & Strategy explained that the service did currently use technology in certain areas such as weighing that provided very useful data. However, further advancement such as individual bin chips would require significant investment specifically in fleet that was not currently plausible. The Head of Projects & Strategy added that the scheme was intended to run for two years and continuation would be reviewed at the end of that period.

111.6      Councillor Mitchell stated that whilst she supported the pilot, she had some reservations about whether it would work effectively as the incentive might not be clear enough to individuals. Councillor Mitchell added that there was a clear problem with recycling in the city due to very low awareness and significant changes to the service and there was a need for a campaign to address this as well as regular information updates.

111.7      The Chair agreed that recycling needed to be easier for residents which was one of the purposes of the introduction of communal recycling that would boost recycling levels in the long term.

111.8      Councillor Daniel stated that whilst she would support the proposals, she felt that service issues needed to be resolved first and foremost and then an examination of the causes of low motivation to recycle apparent in certain areas.

111.9      Councillor Janio stated that he found it regrettable that recycling rates were dropping under this council administration but was pleased that people were being encouraged to do the right thing. Councillor Janio added that if such a system worked, it could be a template for other service areas within the council.

111.10   Councillor Hawtree welcomed the report proposals and any associated improvement in recycling rates as recycling waste brought in revenue to the council whereas disposing of general waste cost the council and residents money. Councillor Hawtree expressed his regret that proposals for a food waste scheme were not supported by the opposition parties.

111.11   Councillor Sykes agreed that there had been extensive service disruption however, the administration were pursuing policies such as communal recycling that had seen a rise in recycling rates in those areas with the facilities.

111.12   Councillor Robins stated that the levels of service varied in different areas in the city and recycling rates were low in those areas that suffered the most disruption. Councillor Robins stated that he believed the service disruptions needed to be resolved before this scheme be taken forward.

111.13   The Chair stated that whilst it had been a difficult year for the recycling and refuse service, it was a good service and he commended the workforce in their attempts to provide that service in periods of difficulty. The Chair added that he hoped all Members could support the scheme.

111.14   RESOLVED-

1.        That the Committee agrees to establish a community incentive scheme to encourage residents to recycle more.  The scheme would be self funded from savings to the waste disposal budget through increased recycling.

2.        That Committee agrees to an engagement campaign to encourage people to recycle more.  The campaign would run for a period of 12 months and be funded from existing budgets and a projected under-spend from the DCLG communal recycling grant funding.