Agenda item

Councillor Keith Henson (Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services and Carbon Management) provided an overview of the meeting held on 21 March 2023, including the key matters explored, the action points from the discussion and progress to date.

Since the meeting on 21 March 2023, further information evidenced and supported not only the improved performance of the service from a waste collection perspective in the last 9 months but also detailed the excellent ongoing performance of the service on a national basis through objective analysis of data. An overview of the data published by the Welsh Government (WG) on the reuse and composting of municipal waste for 2022-23 was provided and from the Welsh Local Government's Annual Waste Finance Data Report and Draft Summary Report. At a Local Authority (LA) level, the service had established a set of performance measures to quantify and monitor the level of service it provided to residents with targets to ensure that in excess of 90% of routes were provided on the scheduled day of collection, and 95% provided in the scheduled week of collection.

Rhodri Llwyd, Corporate Lead Officer, Highways and Environmental Services provided a presentation to the Committee outlining the following:

·       Disruption 22-23

·       Key Matters to Explore

·       Potential Future Options

·       Actions

·       Current Position (Recycling Performance, CCC 23/24 Recycling Figures & WLGA Reports 21/22)

·       Other points to note

Members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions which were answered by Rhodri Llwyd and Councillor Keith Henson. The main points raised were as follows:

·       In relation to the Review of Household Waste Sites (HWS), options were being explored and details would be shared with Members accordingly. It was noted that CCC had a greater provision of HWS per head than any other LA across Wales. Despite concerns that the closure of one of the HWS would result in increased fly-tipping, evidence from other LAs suggested that this was not the case.

·       The decrease in recycling rates in 23/24 from 75.91% in quarter 1 to 70.47% in quarter 3 was due to a reduction in the recycling of highway sweeping in quarter 3. CCC currently had 3 highway sweepers and was on the programme to be changed.

·       In terms of the review of operational staff contracts, a meeting had been arranged with the People and Organisation service to discuss the way forward and whether further discussions were required.

·       Following the approval of the 3 black bags limit of residual waste per residential household per 3 weekly collections, concerns were raised with the practicality and the impact of this decision on residents (e.g., HMOs). Discussions were ongoing around the changes and lessons would be learned from other LAs across Wales who already had implemented this. A Communication Strategy would be developed to share information with Elected Members and the public.

·       Educating the public on the importance of recycling was deemed key, as data suggested that over 50% of waste in black bags was either food or could be recycled. In addition, it was more cost-effective to recycle waste and food in comparison to the disposal of residual waste. 

·       Members reported that bringing collections forward to a Saturday before a Bank Holiday Monday was very effective and the Service should be praised for this. Staff costs on a Saturday and on a Bank Holiday both included overtime payments.

·       The current fleet was around 5 years old, and the intention was to change it in the next 2-3 years. The needs of the new fleet would depend on the Waste Collection Strategy and consideration would be given to electric/ hydrogen vehicles; however, this change would be subject to funding. 

·       Digital solutions were being explored to help identify commercial waste producers. From 6 April 2024, businesses will be required by law to sort their waste for recycling. National Resources Wales (NRW) had recently employed 8 officers across Wales to monitor and take enforcement where necessary and Officers from CCC and NRW would be working together to educate businesses of the changes.

·       Clarification was received that the LA’s recycling waste was taken to a Material Recovery Facility in Northern Ireland, whilst the Council’s residual waste was taken to ‘Energy from Waste’ facilities within Wales and England.

·       The service and particularly the front-line teams were praised for their work in challenging circumstances such as during the recent high level of staff absence which was being addressed and problems with the fleet.

Rhodri Llwyd on behalf of the Waste Collection Service thanked the Committee Members for their support and it was evident that communication and working together were key, to ensure that the best service was provided to the residents of Ceredigion. Members were encouraged to report any waste collection issues to CLIC.

Councillor Keith Henson thanked all present for an interesting discussion which highlighted the importance and the work of a service that had been impacted by budget cuts over the years. 

It was AGREED to note the report and the excellent service that continued to be provided and the progress being made against the previously agreed actions.