Refuse & Recycling Services in Three Rivers District Alison Page Head of Environmental Protection

The History of Refuse Collection in Three Rivers 1990 – recycling rate 0.9%, refuse black bags 1995 kerbside recycling introduced statutory recycling targets introduced 2002 new Waste Collection Contract 2003 District wide implementation wheeled bins and kerbside glass recycling – 24% 2005 – Introduction of garden waste bins – 46% 2008 – Kitchen caddies 2011 – Recycling rate at 50%

Hertfordshire Perspective 570,000 municipal waste in 2009/10 TRDC – 39,000 tonnes (36,000 domestic; 3,000 trade) 44% currently recycled (50% in TRDC) 54% landfilled. Over 48 million spent collecting and disposing of household waste in 2009/10 Total costs to Three Rivers residents = £70 per household to collect and approx. £60 to dispose.

Why Increase We’re running out of space  Existing landfill contracts expire in 2015  New landfill opportunities rapidly decreasing Waste is damaging the environment  Landfill produces polluting liquid and methane which contributes to global warming Cost of landfill is increasing  Landfill Tax increasing at £8 per tonne per year  Potential LATS penalties of £150 per tonne Legislation

The Average Bin Over 80% of the average dustbin can be recycled! Three Rivers Residents manage 50% Why?

TRDC Waste Composition Analysis Carried out in 2007 over a 2 week period TRDC given 4 different ACORN (A Classification Of Residential Neighbourhoods) based on type of housing in district ACORN 1. A.1 Wealthy mature professionals, large houses ACORN 2. D.14 Older professionals in suburban houses ACORN 3. H.29 Mature families in suburban semis ACORN 5. N.44Low income, larger families, semis Households not informed in advance, to ensure accurate survey All refuse / recycling from selected households emptied into large white sacks Sacks taken to Waterdale for sorting

TRDC Waste Composition Analysis – Residual Waste On average TRDC residents throw out 10.22kg waste per wk. However varies from kg (ACORN 1) to 8.34kg (ACORN 5). On average 12% of residual waste contains dry recyclable materials. This varies from 16% (ACORN 3) to 8% (ACORN 5) % of total waste was biodegradable, TRDC is capturing 40% of this through it’s recycling/ composting schemes. On average 34% of residual waste could have been composted (12.56% raw fruit and vegetable matter; cooked food waste) Only 0.25% of waste was garden, implying all composted in one form or another On average 5% of waste were disposable nappies (11% in ACORN type 5).

TRDC Waste Composition Analysis – Dry recycling On average, 70% residents place out cans/ plastic box; 59% paper box & 51% glass box. 54% of cans/plastic boxes are full, 31% paper boxes are full, but only 11% glass boxes are full Contamination highest in paper box – 23%, mostly card. Glass contamination negligible 15% of residual waste contained recyclable paper 2% of residual waste is recyclable glass (over 98% of this is jars). 6% of residual waste contains recyclable plastic bottles

TRDC Waste Composition Analysis - Composting 71% of residents placed bin out for collection (highest ACORN 2 86%; lowest ACORN %) Contamination very low - < 1% 53% of compostable waste was captured 99% garden waste captured 33% cardboard captured 23% raw food vegetable matter captured 1% cooked food waste capture

We asked the question! Why do you not recycle food waste? Can’t be bothered 4.5% It gets too smelly 45.0% Have no time to separate my waste 3.7% Have no space to separate my waste 10.6% It’s too difficult 2.6% Not sure what I can put in there 44.0% Not collected regularly enough 30.5% Have no space to store food waste 2.6%

Kitchen caddies Kitchen caddies were introducing to decrease smells and raise profile Recycling rate from 48% to 50%

We asked the Question Again! 99% of respondents said they use their recycling boxes all the time. 87% were aware of the new extended range of plastics that we can now accept. 92% were either fairly or very satisfied with the extended plastics collection. Of those fairly or very dissatisfied (5%) 67% said the containers were not big enough for the extended plastics collections. 91% of respondents were aware all food waste can be placed in the brown bins. When asked if residents were actually using the brown bin regularly 47% stated that they weren’t as the brown bin is not collected regularly enough. When asked to rate the importance of collections food waste was the highest priority. When asked about the frequency of collections of the refuse bins 84% stated that they place their bin out weekly, but when asked a question about how full the refuse bins are, only 16% said their bins were full. 96% of respondents said they were either very or fairly satisfied with the overall service offered.

Meeting Demand Over 70% of residents rank the weekly collection of food waste as their highest priority. In order to increase food waste tonnage collections should be weekly, as 47% of those residents not recycling food waste state that it down to frequency of collection of brown bins. If brown bin collections are weekly and residual fortnightly it can be implemented within existing resources Only 16% of district have a full bin, therefore large proportion can manage with fortnightly residual collection As 80% of overall waste can be recycled those that struggle need educating.

Alternative Financial Model (AFM) Payment mechanism administered by HWP The more districts recycle, the lower the disposal costs (paid by HCC). Therefore the savings in disposal costs are shared among the districts. Payment made per tonne of residual waste reduced Therefore if TRDC reduces residual waste by 10% (3,400 tonnes), payment of £234,000

Weekly Organic Waste (WOW) To commence 13 th June 2011 Can only be met within existing resources if brown bins limited, therefore a charge of £104 introduced for 2 nd bin. Important to note frequency of collection doubling, therefore volume remains same. Those struggling with fortnightly residual waste will be visited and recycling service explained in full. Recycling Rate should increase to over 60%

Questions?