Waste & Recycling Performance Update
Renfrewshire Council · 28 August 2024
Back to Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board — 28 August 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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To: Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board On: 28th August 2024 Report by: Director of Environment, Housing & Infrastructure Heading: Waste and Recycling Performance Update 1. Summary 1.1 The Council’s application to the Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF) to fund a package of recycling improvements measures across Renfrewshire has been successful. The Council has received an offer of £756,942 to deliver this project. 1.2 The Council agreed at the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board meeting of 29th May 2024 to authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure in conjunction with the Convener of the Infrastructure Land and Environment policy board and the Head of Corporate Governance to accept an offer from the Recycling Improvement Fund (RIF) to cover the cost of the capital infrastructure required to implement the package of recycling improvement measures outlined within the report, should an offer be made. 1.3 This report will provide an update on the application submitted to the Recycling Improvement Fund, project delivery plan and timescales for implementing the recycling improvement measures. 2. Recommendations It is recommended that the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board: 2.1 Notes acceptance of the funding offer from the Recycling Improvement Fund to cover the cost of the capital infrastructure required to implement the package of recycling improvement measures noted at the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board on 29th May 2024 2.2 Notes the proposed delivery plan and timescales for implementing the recycling improvement measures. 3. Background 3.1 The Council has identified a range of recycling improvement measures that aim to improve the quality and quantity of recycling and optimise the performance of the
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waste collection service. The recycling improvement measures were outlined and noted at the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board on 29th May 2024. 3.2 The cost of implementing the recycling improvement measures is significant and an application was made to the Recycling Improvement Fund in April 2024 to cover the capital infrastructure costs required to implement the recycling improvement measures. 3.3 The Council agreed at the meeting on 29th May 2024 to authorise the Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure in conjunction with the Convener of the Infrastructure Land and Environment policy board and the Head of Corporate Governance to accept an offer from the Recycling Improvement Fund, should an offer be made. 4. Recycling Improvement Fund Application Update 4.1 The Council received an offer of £756,942 from the RIF to fund the capital infrastructure required to implement the range of recycling improvement measures. 4.2 The Recycling Improvement Fund Board has attached conditions to the funding. This includes the development of a monitoring programme for each strand of the project and a maintenance programme for the communal food waste infrastructure. 4.3 The award of funding was accepted by the Director of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure in conjunction with the Convener of the Infrastructure, Land and Environment Policy Board and the Head of Corporate Governance in July 2024. 5. Project Delivery 5.1 Implementation of the recycling improvement measures will commence from October 2024 and will be completed in 3 Phases. These are estimated timescales based on current supplier delivery times and are subject to change. This is slightly later than originally planned. Further detail on the recycling improvement measures are detailed within the Waste and Recycling Performance paper considered at the ILE meeting of 29th May 2024. Phase Timeline Phase 1: Increase participation and recycling of food waste and divert food waste from the residual stream by placing an A6 size ‘no food waste’ sticker on the residual waste bin of all standard kerbside properties. From October /2024 Phase 2: Communal Recycling – Distribution of communal food waste recycling infrastructure including, bins, sacks, food liners and indoor caddies to all communal properties. Recycling infrastructure for plastics, cans and glass and paper and card will to be reviewed to ensure all communal areas have the correct recycling capacity. From January 2025 Phase 3: Expand recycling to Difficult to Access Properties - Enhance From March 2025
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recycling provision at properties that do not currently have access to the full range of recycling services by extending the brown bin collection service to include these properties. 5.2 A comprehensive communication plan has been developed to encourage participation and engagement in recycling and support delivery of the recycling improvement measures. The communication plan is tailored to different audiences and specific to each phase of the project. A briefing for Councillors will be shared prior to the launch of Phase 1. 5.3 Further updates will be included within the service update report. Implications of the Report 1. Financial – The Council will contribute £66k of expenditure to take forward the Recycling Improvement Fund grant, as some of activities undertaken are not covered by the conditions of grant. These costs will be funded by the Change Fund in 2024/25. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None 3. Community Planning – None 4. Legal – Renfrewshire Council are committed to a contract for grant funding of the capital infrastructure costs. 5. Property/Assets – This project will include significant investment in recycling infrastructure including containers, stickers, food liners, indoor caddies and sacks. 6. Information Technology – None 7. Equality & Human Rights - The recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety - Staff are trained on handling and manoeuvring of waste and recycling containers. 9. Procurement – Existing Framework contracts will be utilised. 10. Risk – Risk Register and project management arrangements will support the programme of measures to manage and mitigate risks. 11. Privacy Impact - None 12. Cosla Policy Position – None
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13. Climate Change – – These interventions aim to improve recycling and support Renfrewshire’s progress towards net zero. 14. Children’s Rights – None List of Background Papers - None Author: Gavin Hutton, Head of Operations and Service Development Email: Gavin.Hutton@renfrewshire.gov.uk