Following a referral from Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “P”) sets out the background to the budget pressures being faced within waste management, the current overspend projections, and the actions planned to address and recover the position

Recommended -

(1)       That Members consider the breadth and complexity of activities            that go into delivering a comprehensive Waste Collection and          Disposal service to the Bradford District.

(2)       That Members consider the significant work that has been          undertaken thus far to deliver and embed an Alternate Weekly           Collection Service for residual and recycled materials.

(3)       That Members recognise the efforts of households within the     district who recycle as much as possible of their household waste and urges all households to redouble their efforts.

(4)       That Members recognise that contamination of recyclates is an             area that must improve and supports officers in undertaking all     possible steps to support the public to recycle more whilst utilising appropriate enforcement where that is necessary.

(5)       That Members support officers in identifying and implementing             options as quickly as possible to take the most cost effective          control of the districts recyclates and reduce the pressures on the    Councils Waste Budget.

 (John Major – 01274 434748)

Following a referral from Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “P”) set out the background to the budget pressures being faced within waste management, the current overspend projections, and the actions planned to address and recover the position.

The Assistant Director, Waste, Fleet and Transport Services with the Principal Waste Officer gave introduced the report to the Committee.

A question and answer session ensued:

·         Had people come forward in communities and agreed to become Champions?

o   The Council had a total of 91 Champions. Champions gave the Council a great platform in assisting with working alongside the neighbourhood sector;

·         Was the Council able to change behaviour on a face to face basis?

o   Ward Councillors were best advocates for the Council in communities and could assist considerably by promoting recycling in their respective wards;

·         Was the correct model in place for collection services for cost effectiveness for the Council or was the Council fixed in a legal contract that had become worst?

o   The contract in place was for residual waste. The model that the Council desired was a very simple system for Bradford. In some cases, new bins to be installed that would undertake own recycling through sensors located inside of them and therefore the controlling the quality of waste disposal. The present model works but the only concern being that Bradford not processing recycling in a speedier rate;

·         Were residents acquainted with the recycling symbols to help decide whether particular waste was recyclable or not?

o   A vast amount of information was available from the Council such as videos and leaflets, internet and information could be shared on a face to face basis; and,

·         Was budget an issue for the service in this Municipal year, a reoccurring problem due to the speed of processing recycling waste?

o   Due to budget pressures, a financial pressure of £350,000 income from recyclates sales were lower than budgeted due to global pressures on recycling markets.

During the discussion, the following points were made:

·         There were many areas in the Bradford district that were challenging and were extremely slow in behaviour changes;

·         It was about more engagement within communities on a face to face basis;

·         It would be fantastic if people with a bilingual background were selected as Champions;

·         The issues in some wards were that residents were not bothered about recycling and therefore a language barrier being irrelevant.

·         It was about changing behaviour and 4 permanent advisers had been recruited to relay the recycling process message to the residents’ of Bradford on a high level priority basis; and,

·         Various information on recycling was available on the internet.

Resolved –

(1)       That the breadth and complexity of activities that go into delivering a comprehensive Waste Collection and Disposal   Service to the Bradford District be welcomed.

(2)       That the significant work that has been undertaken thus far to   deliver and embed an Alternate Weekly collection Service for           residual and recycled materials be welcomed.

(3)       That the efforts of households within the district who recycle as            much as possible of their household waste be recognised and     urges all households to redouble their efforts in recycling.

(4)       That the Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny            Committee recognises the contamination of recyclates is an area     that must improve and officers be supported in undertaking all        possible steps to support the public in recycling more whilst      utilising appropriate enforcement where necessary.

(5)       That officers be supported in identifying and implementing         options as quickly as possible to take the most cost effective          control of the district’s recyclates and reduce the pressures on           the Council’s Waste Budget.

(6)       That officers encourage the recruitment of recycling          Ambassadors and representatives of communities.

(7)       That Richard Longcake, Principal Officer be thanked for his work         with Councillors and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee over   the years and wish him a happy retirement.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place