Agenda item

1.     To outline the matters requiring attention in the areas of Waste and Recycling.

2.     To present a work programme for reviewing the matters requiring attention in the areas of Waste and Recycling.

 

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

 

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for the Environment, the Head of Environment Department and the Assistant Head of Environment Department. Attention was drawn briefly to the following principal points: 

-      It was confirmed that the waste and recycling collection service had been transferred to the Environment Department since October 2022. The Head of Department had been learning more about the service and becoming familiar with the work by going on routes with some of the workforce.

-      It was explained that the service's workforce was very committed since they were providing a weekly service to around 63,400 dwellings across the county.

-      It was stated that the recycling percentages of Wales were very good in comparison with other countries. It was explained that a target had been set by Welsh Government to recycle 70% of all domestic waste by 2025. It was a challenge for every local authority.

-      Gratitude was expressed to the Highways and Municipal Department for the development of systems to ensure that the Gwynedd domestic recycling percentage was static at around 64%. Nevertheless, it was acknowledged that there was a need to do something major in order to meet the target of 70% by 2025. He noted that it was not possible to reach this by making minor changes to current procedures.

-      It was explained that the service's working arrangements had changed from 12-hour shifts (three days on, three days off), to be working the same hours over 5 days a week. This was challenging over the Covid-19 period but now the workforce had adapted to this and was working on the Task and Finish baseline. It was hoped that this would lead to savings within the service, but unfortunately the costs were more than anticipated. The department would revisit this arrangement to assess whether this optimised the service to its full potential.

-      It was reported that waste collection costed £232 per dwelling. It was explained that this was the second highest amount in Wales.
 It was considered that this was because Gwynedd was a very vast county. Nevertheless, the service's performance was very good in terms of the recycling percentage.

-      It was confirmed that there was a substantial overspend in the field of waste collection and treatment. Due to the physical nature of the work, staff sickness levels were high. It was acknowledged that this level was higher than some of the other authorities in Wales. This meant that some members of the workforce had to work additional hours. It was assumed that the overspend figures would be around £1.4 million this year on a budget of around £5 million.

-      It was emphasised that workforce health and safety was central to the service. The Council did not have an obvious waste and recycling strategy. The department was hoping to develop this in the future to ensure that staff health and safety was protected.

-      It was noted that the department received regular complaints that recycling boxes and bins had been damaged and that waste was blowing along the road as it had not been collected. It was assumed that this was an impact of staff sickness and the department was reassessing how to deliver the service in the most effective way. The Government was hopeful that local authorities would be able to sort waste on the kerbside.

-      It was stated that the department was attempting to receive new technological systems to monitor the service in a timely way and to evaluate the service's performance. It was also hoped to develop a Portal so that people could see the reason why the waste had not been collected and when the next collection would be.

-      It was confirmed that there were many contracts with providers so that the service could be maintained. It was reported that the department was eager to strengthen those contracts to reduce costs and improve the quality of the service.

-      It was explained that the department had received support from WRAP Cymru to look at how the department could improve the service, in order to make it as simple and effective as possible.

 

Members were given an opportunity to ask questions and offer observations. During the discussion, the following matters were raised:

 

It was asked whether a system existed where the Councillors received a message when waste had not been collected in order to share the information with the residents of their ward.

-      In response to the enquiry, the Head of Environment Department noted that such a system was not in place at this time. The department hoped that such a system would be developed after looking at the workforce figures and receiving data to feed into the system.

 

A member suggested that the possibility of using the existing system of the Clean and Tidy Communities Team should be considered for members. It was noted in the meantime that steps should be taken to contact local members.

 

It was discussed that the department had altered routes so that the same staff members worked on the same routes. It was believed that this had been effective and it was considered whether the standard of the service was consistent through the county following the change.

-      In response to the enquiry, the Head of Environment Department confirmed that the quality of the service being provided by the service was very good across the county. However, the department was seeking to change which routes the workers completed from time to time in order to avoid boredom and staff sickness. This meant that some difficulties arose when changing a route as different considerations needed to be kept in mind for different routes and therefore problems could arise from time to time.

 

In response to a question from a member in the context of income deriving from recycling materials, the Head of Environment Department provided assurance that recycling materials were processed responsibly. He explained that the income received for the materials was good but could be maximised if the materials were cleaner. 

 

It was asked whether the department had a stock of recycling materials and how residents could enquire for new materials should anything happen to their boxes or bins.

-      In response to the query, the Head of Environment Department noted that the department had a stock of recycling bins and boxes on a site near Clynnog Fawr. He explained that the first step would be to attempt to repair the recycling boxes, carts and bins, before issuing new materials to residents, in the hope of saving costs.

 

Attention was given to residents living in populated areas of the county, or in estates and flats and considering whether individuals should be more considerate of what they did with their waste in order to ensure that they did not blow away. Consideration was also given to whether the department would consider issuing large green bins in such situations, with keys supplied to those who used them. In response to the query:   

-      the Head of Environment Department confirmed that it would be excellent if everyone could handle their recycling equipment with care - such as ensuring that the lids were placed correctly on the containers. Nevertheless, this would be effective in all areas of the county, and not just in the most populated areas.  It was confirmed that the plastic on the equipment was very hard and it was acknowledged that the boxes broke easily.

-      the Assistant Head of Environment Department agreed that issuing large bins was a good option for some buildings and communities. However, unfortunately, the department's existing lorries could not pick up those types of bins and so they could not be emptied.

 

The recycling percentages figures of Gwynedd were compared with Ceredigion and Powys and it was considered how these counties were managing to recycle high percentages of waste. In response to the enquiry, the Head of Environment Department noted:

-      one factor that was likely to impact Gwynedd's recycling percentages was that people did not necessarily place the recycling materials in the correct box or placed them in the green bin instead of recycling them. It was assumed that the other counties collected all recycling items in one bag and then staff and equipment sorted them. This is why the Department supported the idea of sorting recycling waste on the kerbside.

-      the department encouraged anyone to contact them with complaints in order to obtain an understanding of the difficulties facing people and being able to develop resolutions. It was hoped that a number of complaints reduced in time as fewer problems arose within the service.

-      Pembrokeshire had a fun and very innovative attitude towards the service and it was assumed that this led to more items being recycled. It was a similar county to Gwynedd but it was smaller. It was also noted that the service's workforce in Pembrokeshire had a close relationship with the staff of the county's offices, which encouraged good performance at work. A relationship like this was something that the department hoped to nurture here in Gwynedd.

 

It was discussed whether the Department had considered obtaining large community bins in order to collect recyclable waste in some areas.

-      In response to the enquiry, the Head of Environment Department noted that bins like these had been effective in some communities in the past. However, the department would have to consider the public's attitude towards them before installing new bins since they were a very easy item to damage or misuse, creating additional costs to the department.

 

The fact that staff sickness rates were high was detailed, and it was asked how the department was supporting its workforce.

-      In response to the enquiry, the Head of Environment Department noted that the health and safety of staff was central to the service. Staff circumstances were being monitored as soon as possible to ensure that nobody hurt themselves at work. He elaborated that the department was arranging training for the workforce on a regular basis to ensure that rules and good practice were followed.

 

In response to a member's question in the context of the workforce's view on the working method, the Head of Environment Department noted that the workforce was eager to discuss the work pattern. It was explained that initial discussions in terms of sickness issues and costs had been held with the unions and it was intended to visit the workforce with union officers.

 

It was enquired whether the department had any guidance regarding when the work programme would be ready. They were asked to return to the Scrutiny Committee when it was ready.

-      In response to the enquiry, the Head of Environment Department noted that the Council's current cuts had affected the department's ability to develop a work plan at present. As the financial situation emerged, the department could work on its work programme. It was suggested that some elements of the work programme could be presented before this committee so that members could consider them.

Members gave thanks for the report.

 

RESOLVED

To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.