Agenda item

Review of Garden Waste Collection

To approve authorisation for the Director of Borough Economy to instruct Serco to establish a subscribed chargeable garden waste collection scheme targeting implementation for the 2023 season.

Decision:

Agreed:-

 

(1)     that the Director of Borough Economy be authorised to instruct Serco to establish a subscribed chargeable garden waste collection scheme, targeting implementation for the 2023 season.

 

(2)     that a Contract Variation in accordance with Part 4 Schedule 21 (Change Protocol) be initiated to effect the necessary change and adjustment to the Unitary Charge;

 

 

(3)     that the recommended fee for the collection of Garden Waste of £35 for 2023 (or part) is progressed to Full Council;

 

(4)     That the Director of Borough Economy be authorised to make operational arrangements for the implementation of garden waste subscription sales.

Minutes:

Approval was sought to authorise the Director of Borough Economy to instruct Serco to establish a subscribed chargeable garden waste collection scheme, targeting implementation for the 2023 season.

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment highlighted that the proposals set out changes to the Council’s green waste collection which would, in turn, make it more affordable, fair and sustainable for the years to come. Charging for green waste collection would save Sandwell in excess of £2m a year. Many of other local authorities charged for garden waste and therefore, the proposals would bring the Council in line with a tried and tested way of delivering the service whilst also recovering the cost from the residents who use it. Many of the Garden waste bins in Sandwell were empty or half full on collection day. As a result, it was deemed that the number of crews required could be reduced to 4 from 8. These 4 additional crews could be then redeployed to waste collection services. The Council would support residents who want to compost at home as well as offer the free service at recycling centres.

 

The Chair of the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board raised a number of issues as follows:-

 

·      The estimated income to be generated seemed extremely optimistic. It was asked if a further breakdown could be provided

·      An estimate for the potential increase in fly-tipping was requested.

·      Clarification was sought on whether the Council would be removing waste bins from properties who did not subscribe in year 1.

·      A question was asked if the Council would review the removal the appointment system at Shidas Lane if the decision was approved?

·      Was the Council confident that Serco was capable of running a subscription service.

 

In response, the Cabinet Member for Environment confirmed the following: -

 

·      Many similar schemes in other Local Authorities were currently on-going. An estimate of 35% of households in Sandwell was subscribing to the service was calculated.

·      There was always a possibility that changes to waste services could increase fly-tipping. This would be monitored.

·      Garden waste bins would not be removed from properties who do not subscribe in year 1

·      The appointment system would remain under review.

·      Serco already successfully ran subscription services in other authorities and the proposals were in line with effective systems in place elsewhere.

 

In response to further questions, it was highlighted that a sticker system would be used to prevent Serco from accidentally collecting bins that were not paid for.

 

Reasons for recommendations

The introduction of a subscribed garden waste collection service removes any disproportionality associated with a universal free service that a significant number of residents are currently not accessing. Charging for the service would mean garden waste is only collected from households actively subscribing and using the service, reducing the number of unnecessary journeys made by waste collection vehicles. Modelling indicates that – based on the recommended Option 3 – the collection fleet could be reduced from 8 vehicles to 4. This will reduce carbon emissions and save and estimated £800,000 per year.

 

 

Alternative options considered

 

 

Option

Risk and Opportunity

1

Continue with current free of charge service

 

This is the do-nothing option for which the tonnage collected would be at a similar level to current at circa 12,500 tonnes from 120,000 properties.

Costs for providing the service are included in the Waste Services Contract with Serco, which includes collection treatment and processing.

 

Not recommended

Maintains current tonnages of garden waste and would not impact on recycling performance.

 

Maintains the current inefficiency of large diesel vehicles regularly collecting small amounts of garden waste from households.

 

Disproportionality where residents are subsiding a service they may not need or want.

 

No savings delivered

 

2

Continue with current free of charge service but change collection frequency to 4-weekly

 

This involves continuation of a free service with a reduction in collection frequency from fortnightly to 4-weekly (40 weeks – March to November).

 

Costs for providing the service are included in the Waste Services Contract with Serco, which includes collection treatment and processing.

 

Not recommended

Maintains a free of charge collection service.

 

Disproportionality where residents are subsiding a service they may not need or want.

 

Defra consultation suggests minimum fortnightly collection.

 

May introduce undesired behaviour in residents, compressing contents to fit a 4 weekly service.

 

Savings from reduction in fleet / potential to reduce Serco’s unitary charge.

 

No income from service

 

3

Introduce a subscribed paid service

 

Charged garden waste service with an annual subscription fee for each subscriber. Suggested fees are £35 per subscription.

 

Subscribers would be issued with issued with a sticker containing a barcode or bin chip. Each subscriber would also have their green garden waste bin lid changed to a brown lid for ease of differentiation from non-paying customers.

 

Additional bins will be provided at the same subscription rate of £35 as an additional subscription.

 

Scheme administration to be with Contractor with joint promotion between Council and Contractor.

 

Proposed months of delivery of service April to December (currently March to end of Nov).

 

Standard bin size 240L with options for smaller bin sizes and biodegradable reusable sacks (180L) to address mobility and access issues.

 

Recommended choice

Removes disproportionality providing service only to those who want it and are prepared to pay for it.

 

Gross income generated from subscription fees of circa £1.5m. Residents also do not need to be supplied or purchase a bin.

 

Potential for reduced recycling performance due to opting out of service. May result in increased residual tonnages from garden waste added to residual bin.

 

Opportunity for residents to access future potential reward scheme

 

Likely to increase use of and tonnage collected at Shidas Lane HRC

 

Encourages waste minimization through home composting.

 

Introduces process of retrieving unwanted bins.

 

Growth of new customers.

 

Sacks address accessibility issues for crews e.g. steps

 

 

4.

Place all garden waste properties on monthly frequency and offer premium fortnightly subscribed service.

 

This option involves moving all properties onto a 4-weekly free of charge collection frequency (as option 2) and offering a 2-weekly ‘premium’ collection  service which would include an annual subscription fee for each subscriber (as option 3). Suggested fees are £35 per premium subscription.

 

Subscribers would be issued with issued with a sticker containing a barcode (or bin chip). Each subscriber would also have their green garden waste bin lid changed to a brown lid for ease of differentiation from non-paying customers.

 

Additional bins will be provided to premium service subscribers only and at the same subscription rate of £35. 

 

Scheme administration to be through Serco with joint promotion between Council and Contractor.

 

Proposed months of delivery of premium service April to January (currently March to end of Nov) to consider Christmas tree collections. Future option to introduce for subscribers a choice of bin size in addition to standard 240L containers. To smaller bin (180L) at same subscription fee.

 

A variation would be to include a fee for reusable or biodegradable sacks at a minimum charge.

 

Not recommended

Continues free of charge collection service but on 4-weekly collection frequency. Premium service offering fortnightly collection and access to reward scheme.

 

Confusing “mixed” scheme. Research has indicated no other councils operating such a service.

 

Gross income generated from subscription fees will be substantially less. Most residents will likely try to manage with 4-weekly free option.

 

Fleet savings will also be substantially reduced.

 

Container costs reduced by changing bin lid only for paid subscribers. Option to fit chip on bins to track tonnages.

 

Ameliorates potential for reduced recycling performance and garden waste added to residual bin due to all properties receiving a garden waste collection.

 

Eliminates having to collect unwanted garden waste bins re option 3.

 

Encourages waste minimization through home composting.

 

Opportunity to encourage customers to switch to premium service.

 

Likely to attract less negative publicity as garden waste service is provided to all properties.

 

May introduce undesired behaviour in residents compressing contents to fit 4 weekly service

 

Sacks address accessibility issues for crews e.g., steps.

 

Agreed:-

 

(1)          that the Director of Borough Economy be authorised to instruct Serco to establish a subscribed chargeable garden waste collection scheme, targeting implementation for the 2023 season.

 

(2)          that a Contract Variation in accordance with Part 4 Schedule 21 (Change Protocol) be initiated to effect the necessary change and adjustment to the Unitary Charge;

 

 

(3)              that the Council be recommended to approve the fee for the collection of Garden Waste of £35 for 2023 (or part);

 

 

(4)          that the Director of Borough Economy be authorised to make operational arrangements for the implementation of garden waste subscription sales.

 

Supporting documents: