Agenda item

The Committee considered reports of the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change which provided updates on resources and waste management services in County Durham and single use plastics (for copies of reports and presentation see file of minutes).

Jo Blackie, Contracts Team Manager for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, attended the meeting to deliver the presentation which encompassed both reports and included an evaluation of performance following the Covid-19 pandemic.  Noting the increase in the amount of waste generated both during and after the pandemic, the Contracts Team Manager referred to the council’s role to educate the public to view waste as a resource and to be mindful that recycled products are required to be as high quality as possible, in order to return to the manufacturing process. 

The Committee heard that Durham was the largest producer of waste in the north-east and, in the last year, it produced approximately 270,000 tonnes of waste. The next largest producer in the north-east was Northumberland which produced 176,000 tonnes, followed by Newcastle which produced 140,000 tonnes.

The report provided detail as to how the impact from the pandemic continued to affect areas of performance, with the recycling rate reducing from 42% to 38% for the first quarter of the year and a 10% increase in landfill since Covid.  The Contracts Team Manager explained the lack of regional facilities to process residual waste and, with all neighbouring local authorities observing an increase in residual waste during the pandemic, the result had been a lack of capacity overall which contributed to the increase in landfill.  With authorities competing against each other in order to secure processing capacity, in the future, an increased multi-agency approach is expected to be adopted and the Committee received information on the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility Procurement partnership exercise to procure a 450,000 tonne residual waste treatment facility.

A further impact of the pandemic was the increase in kerbside residual waste due to national lockdowns which saw an increase in consumption and more waste generated from households. The Contracts Team Manager remarked that a new baseline was emerging with the transition to home and hybrid working.

On a more positive note, the Contracts Team Manager highlighted the increase in the collection of kerbside garden waste and a decrease in the amount of garden waste taken to Household Waste Recycling Centres.  However, it was noted that financial pressures may lead to a decline in the number of people signing-up for the garden waste service in the future.

The Contracts Team Manager informed the Committee that garden waste was delivered to the council’s composting facility located at Coxhoe and it was available for resale to businesses and the general public.  The officer suggested that the Committee may wish to visit the facility in the future.

In terms of the increase in kerbside recycling in relation to both dry mixed recycling and glass during the pandemic, the Contracts Team Manager informed the Committee that there was evidence that dry mixed recycling was returning to pre-Covid levels however the increase in glass recycling continued.  Durham was one of the highest producers of household waste sent for reuse, recycling and composting and was performing better than Northumberland and Newcastle.

The Committee was provided with information on publicity campaigns that have been reinstated following the pandemic, to encourage more awareness of ‘what goes where’ and waste reduction and reuse.  Good progress was reported in terms of single use plastics which had enabled the objective of the campaign to change its focus to the life cycle of catering products. 

The amount of contamination of recycling had increased during the pandemic and this had continued with the current contamination rate being approximately 38% and of, that approximately 26% was waste including nappies and pet waste.  The Committee heard of the campaigns to combat contamination with refreshed educational stickers being placed on bins and ongoing social media campaigns to promote public awareness.

The Contracts Team Manager outlined the targeted campaigns to encourage the student population of Durham to act responsibly in terms of recycling.  Partnership work was also being carried out with charities with regard to furniture reuse schemes, with some of the recycled furniture being used to resettle refugees.

The Committee thanked the Contracts Team Manager for the detailed presentation and Members made comments and asked questions as follows.

Councillor Adam asked for information as to what measures were in place to deal with non-kerbside waste.  The Contracts Team Manager explained that a  reprocessing plant at Birtley was used for the processing of street sweepings and the plant was one of only two in the north-east. In terms of litter, trials of on-street recycling had been carried out which found a high contamination rate.  The Contracts Team Manager commented that it is hoped that government legislation may introduce a deposit return scheme in the future.  The Committee noted that a full recycling service was offered for commercial waste and trade waste collection statistics had increased during the first quarter of the year.  Other projects included work with the Clean and Green team to segregate and recycle fly-tipping as far as possible.

Councillor Adam expressed concern that the amount of landfill was not reducing and the Contracts Team Manager responded that there was an increased impetus to raise public awareness and the service continued to work with contractors and use the best available technology, however it was clear that government legislation was required for a step-change. 

Councillor Adam commented on the significant amount of good work undertaken to reduce the use of single use plastics and urged the council to do more to reduce their use at council events such as food festivals.  The Contracts Team Manager agreed to pass the comment to the Waste Strategy Team.

Councillor Nicholls referred to the contamination of recycling which he had observed on the site visit and he expressed concern that members of the public did not appreciate that contaminated products are removed, by hand, by staff at the sorting facilities and he asked what more could be done to deal with those who refuse to recycle.  Councillor Nicholls further asked whether more could be done to recycle as much material as possible from community litter picks and he also enquired about the latest position in relation to food waste. 

The Contracts Team Manager explained the council operated an education rather than enforcement approach which allowed crews to check bins for contamination. The refreshed stickers on bins were designed to educate the public as to the correct disposal of waste and there was a move towards rejecting more bins at the kerbside. A notice placed on a rejected bin would be logged by the in-cab technology in order that when a resident complained that their bin had not been emptied, they would be informed as to the reason why and what they were required to do to rectify the situation. 

In response to the question on waste produced from litter-picks, the Contracts Team Manager informed the Committee that Biffa employees had carried out a trial pre-Covid and that it was the intention of the team to pick this up again.  With regard to food waste, the officer explained the service is anticipating future changes within the detail of the Environment Act 2021.  Preparatory work had been carried out on a costing exercise for a separate food waste collection system. The Contracts Team Manager also highlighted that a new primary school catering contract was in place with all food waste being deposited into one food waste plant.

In response to a question from Councillor Charlton, the Contracts Team Manager clarified that the council had no active landfill sites operating

in County Durham and the site at Coxhoe was a closed site.

Councillor Stubbs referred to kerbside recycling and asked about its composition. The Contracts Team Manager clarified that the 38% contamination figure included 26% waste and the remainder was non-target recyclable material.

Referring to the 2021/22 figure, the Contracts Team Manager explained that of the 49,039 tonnes, approximately 9,000 tonnes was glass and approximately 40,000 was material placed in recycling bins and it was 38% of the 40,000 tonnes that was contaminated.  The Contracts Team Manager agreed to provide a detailed breakdown of kerbside recycling.

Councillor Quinn referred to the improper disposal of lithium batteries and vapes and suggested that the current practice of using plastic collection boxes was not suitable due to the hazardous nature of these materials.  He expressed the view that a safe and convenient way for residents to dispose of these items was required. The Contracts Team Manager agreed to feedback Councillor Quinn’s comments and added that the issue was a national issue and a topic for discussion at the National Recycling Conference.

Councillors Elmer and McLean commented on the carbon capture scheme process which involves compression of gaseous CO? into a liquid form, and the piping of this liquid into voids beneath the North Sea, noting that the work will be delivered by BP and other contract partners.  Members requested assurances from BP that the liquified CO? will not itself be used to pressurise voids to enable the further extraction of natural gas and oil.  They requested further information as to the level of energy usage and carbon emissions associated with the carbon capture scheme process.  Members also asked whether the carbon capture scheme operations are regulated and inspected, and if so which body is responsible for oversight of operations in order that the council might gain assurances that the scheme activities are conducted in accordance with contractual obligations. The Contracts Team Manager agreed to follow up these questions for a response to be provided.

Councillor Charlton emphasised the importance that publicity materials use plain English and are relatable and she also pointed out that the report referenced that a number of small electrical recycling points were situated throughout the county and requested that the locations of these recycling points be highlighted in publicity campaigns.  The Contracts Team Manager agreed to feedback the comment and informed members that the service was in the process of creating a toolkit for Members to share on their social media feeds.

Resolved:

That the report be received.