Agenda item

1-2-3 Food Waste & Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP) Collection Trial Progress Update

This report provides a progress update on the 1-2-3 Food Waste & Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP) collections trial which was approved by Cabinet on 16th November 2020 and commenced in May 2021

[40 Minutes]

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed and introduced Kelly Hellyer, Partnership Manager within the Waste Service Team at West Sussex County Council (WSCC).

Upon the invitation of the Chair the Environmental Services & Strategy Manager presented the report to the Committee. He introduced the additional recommendation which was ‘To approve the continuation of the 123 trial from May 2022 until February 2023 and expiry of the current combined cleansing services contract (as set out in the Cabinet report dated 16.11.2020’.

The Environmental Services & Strategy Manager highlighted some key areas of the report including that this was a trial for which they were only 6 months in. The work of the Project Team which comprised of Officers from both Arun & WSCC was a great example of partnership working and had ensured a successful roll out of the trial. Participation and capture rates were around 90% per household and 60% for flats, which were well in excess of pre-trial targets. They had captured 86 tonnes of food waste, which was equivalent to a 36% reduction in the residual waste stream. AHP collection had been well in excess of targets, and at the 6 month stage they had collected almost 13 tonnes of AHP. The face-to-face resident survey captured responses from 500 trial households. Of these 85% were either satisfied or very satisfied with food collection service. 73% of respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with the general wate collection service. The complaints and issues had been few and isolated. The team had taken learning points from the trial.

 

Members then took part in a question and answer session as summarised below:

·         What was being done to try to encourage people in flats to take part? The Partnership Manager within the Waste Service Team at WSCC confirmed they had been completing site inductions, and they monitored bin stores regularly; they communicated with managing agents; they had a doorstepping team to inform residents and remind them how to use the service; there was a waste prevention team also offering guidance.

·         Clarification was requested around communal bins for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

·         Could a scheme for AHP be rolled out to other household’s in the District not participating in the trial? The Partnership Manager within the Waste Service Team at WSCC confirmed they were working with the contractors who were taking data from the trial to supply to designers and contractors to create a recycling facility. Students from Brighton University were also being worked with, in order for them to hopefully create a unique design solution.

·         The future collection cycle should ensure that the dry recycling was collected frequently enough.

·         Had the seagull proof bags been tested? How successful were they? The Environmental Services & Strategy Manager would provide a written update to Members regarding this separate project.

·         Clarification was requested over the trial figures.

·         The situation regarding overflowing bins and whether residents would receive additional or larger bins.

·         It was a fascinating exercise.

·         Could more waste be composted in the future.

·         Thanks was given to the teams implementing the trial.

·         Whether changes would be made to the trial over the next 6 months.

·         Whether Care Homes would be included in the roll-out.

 

 

            The recommendations were Proposed by Councillor Bicknell and Seconded by Councillor Bennett.

 

            The Committee

 

RESOLVED that

 

(1)  They acknowledged the positive results to date of the 1-2-3 Food Waste and AHP collections trial.

 

(2)  They acknowledged the efforts of residents in the trial area who have sustained high participation and capture rates of food waste and AHP and delivered considerable reduction of these materials in the residual waste stream.

 

(3)  They acknowledged the effectiveness of the Arun and WSCC joint project team in ensuring smooth delivery of the trial.

 

(4) The continuation of the 123 trial from May 2022 until February 2023 and expiry of the current combined cleansing services contract (as set out in the Cabinet report dated 16.11.2020) be approved.

 

Supporting documents: