Decision details

To consider a recommendation by the Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel that separate collections of recyclable materials should not be introduced in the borough in response to new waste regulations that come into force from January 2015.

In October 2013, local authorities were advised of changes to the Waste Regulations (England and Wales) 2011 which come into effect from January 2015. The changes require any organisation that collects waster paper, metal, plastic or glass to do so by way of separate collections if it is necessary to ensure that high quality recyclate is provided, and that it is technically, environmentally and economically practicable (TEEP). 

The amendment to Regulation 13 does not prohibit the co-mingled collection of these items, but requires councils to demonstrate that separate collection is not necessary or TEEP in their area.

Currently Fareham Borough Council collects co-mingled recycling from residents as part of the alternate weekly collection schedule. Glass is collected separately from a network of bring banks across the borough.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has not issued any detailed guidance for local authorities when considering the implications of the regulations. However, a group comprising members from the Waste and Resources Action programme (WRAP) and the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) have produced a Waste Regulations Route Map to help local authorities understand their obligations. Streetscene Officers have worked alongside Project Integra and Hampshire County Council Officers to apply the Route Map and ensure each criterion is being met. 

External legal guidance has also been sought by all Project Integra authorities to ensure that the vires and Route Map provide a sound framework for the relevant assessments.

The co-mingled recyclate currently produced is independently assessed by DEFRA and is considered to be of a consistently high quality. The market price obtained by the disposal contractor is at the high end of the national price range indicating a good quality of recyclate material is being produced that reprocessors are willing to accept and pay for.

The feasibility of implementing separate collections has been investigated by officers with each of the TEEP criteria analysed separately. The attached briefing paper outlines the findings of the analysis.

Having taken legal advice and considered the legislation and the likely impact, although it is technically feasible to collect recyclate separately, the infrastructure within Hampshire is currently not set up to cope with separate collection and disposal these materials. Collecting the recyclate separately would have a negative effect on the environment, increasing the carbon footprint of the Council due to the increased mileage driven and also increasing the number of vehicles on the road.

Implementing separate collections for recyclate would require significant capital investment and higher revenue costs to the council. It is also likely to lead to a reduction in the amount of recyclate collected which would in turn reduce the income received from the sale of the recyclate.

There are also practical operational issues involved in implementing separate collections, including

·         Difficulties in reaching all households across the borough due to size of the vehicles required to collect the recyclate.

·         Difficulties for households in being able to store 3 separate boxes for recycling.

·         The existing 48,000 blue top recycling bins throughout the borough would need to be collected and disposed of and replaced with stackable boxes.

A report was taken to the Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel on 23 October 2014 for consideration and for members to make a recommendation to the Council’s Executive.

RESOLVED that the Executive endorses the recommendation made by the Streetscene Policy and Development Review Panel at its meeting on 23 October 2014, and agrees:

(a)  that no changes are required to the collection of recyclable materials currently co-mingled in the blue top recycling bins; and

(b)  that officers will assess any proposed collection policy changes against the new regulations prior to any recommendations being put to Members for decision.