The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “F”) will update the Committee on actions from the previous brief in November 2020 with regards to the additional demands and operational difficulties encountered due to the Covid19 pandemic and its effects within Bradford West and the wider District.

Recommended –

(1)       Members are asked to consider this report and the obstacles that         Waste Services have had to overcome to maintain this essential    operation. Any recommendations to further aid with service          provision are welcome.

(Richard Galthen – 01274 431217)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “F”) updated the committee on actions from the previous brief in November 2020 with regards to the additional demands and operational difficulties encountered due to the Covid pandemic and its effects within Bradford West and the wider District.

Following an invitation by the Chair, the Contract and Procurement Manager gave a synopsis of the report.

He explained that waste management representatives had met in January to discuss areas of concern and joint working which could be closely co-ordinated in order to make an impact on issues relating to low recycling rates and side waste.

It was then agreed to increase co-ordination between Ward Officers, Wardens and Recycling Officers with stronger communication links and expectations, as this would be advantageous, increased sharing of data from collection routes in the west area would also be closely scrutinised to identify early priority locations.

He mentioned other streams of work being undertaken, summarised as follows:

·         A six weeks plan to visit prioritised areas and not exceeding 3 hours per visit;

·         Teams to visit entire wards of Bradford West;

·         There would be further visits to businesses and residents by recycling officers to check for contamination and general engagement activities;

·         To follow up on targeted communication from a neighbourhood team via social media and other network platforms;

·         Challenges remained the same the in terms of recycling contamination as this stood at 30% during ore Covid and currently between 45 and 50%;

·         Various recent analysis had been undertaken using different third parties to analyse the raw material effects at curb sides. Due to Covid, contamination ranged from 13% to 50% in some areas.

·         During the winter period, there were issues with snow and ice which caused significant lost days of collection;

·         The service was about to develop a new strategy which will impact on services to the Council and residents. The strategy would be in line with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and government guidelines;

·         The contamination levels were currently around 1500 tonnes

per month in recycling. This was costing up to £260,000 a month;

·         The cost towards Covid impact was £200,000 per month with no sign of ease;

·         The service was currently looking at a Materials Reclamation Facility (MRF) at Bowling Back Lane. MRF had the potential to service significant amount of waste a year and would assist the Council becoming more efficient in waste management services;

o   The function of MRF at Bowling Back Lane is to maximise the quantity of recyclables processed, while producing materials that will generate the highest possible revenues in the market.

·         The role of 6 Recycling Advisors undertaking engagement activities with residents. However, with Covid efforts had been curtailed; and,

·         In between the two Covid lockdown restrictions, the advisors had hand delivered leaflets and stickers. In the region of 20,000 stickers and leaflets had been delivered.

A question and answer session ensued:

·         Due to more people remaining in their homes during lockdown restrictions, additional waste was not to be collected which was very concerning. What was the reason behind the missed collections of waste?

o   The slow pace of work was solely attributed by lockdown restrictions which fell under government guidelines. Collection services were unable to undertake routine activities of waste collection; in addition, unable to knock on house doors too. However, in compensation, the time had been resourced towards messaging residents through active leafleting through their letterboxes;

·         In which specific wards had the 20,000 leaflets been delivered?

o   Areas of high incident contamination were first targeted for leafleting and more areas were to be covered; and,

·         How likely was it to empty the grey bins sooner than later as they contained the most contaminated materials?

o   Waste collection services was eagerly waiting to get out on into the wards and try to remove contaminated waste as swiftly as possible.

Resolved –

(1)       That a report be presented to the first meeting of the Bradford West Area Committee in the Municipal Year 2021/22 that focuses    on the Waste Services delivery plan that had been designed in   consultation with Ward Officers.

(2)       That an online training session be arranged for elected Members         of the Bradford West area that wish to help the community in its    Waste Services.

LEAD:            Strategic Director, Place