1 Achieving 60%+ recycling Proposals to introduce weekly recycling collection

2 Introduction March Cabinet proposals Details of new weekly recycling option Financial analysis and key risks Implementation Recommendations

3 March Cabinet proposals Keep fortnightly collections but change how recycling is collected. Move to an unsorted dry recyclable collection, using existing boxes (to be separated at a Materials Recycling Facility MRF). Introduce a dedicated weekly food waste collection service, utilising food caddies and collected with an integrated food pod on the waste collection vehicle Bid to DCLG for additional funding to support implementation

4 Weekly recycling collection Opportunity to develop a weekly mixed dry recycling materials collection. This is in addition to a dedicated weekly food waste collection. Use of lorries with pods that allows the collection of recycling as well as food waste with both green and black bin collections The most cost effective option would be for residents to put all recycling in new 240 litre wheeled bins and flats to use Euro 1100 bins.

5 Current and future waste collection Current service arrangementsFuture service arrangements Fortnightly: Black bin collection -Residual waste Separate recycling box collection: – Newspapers and magazines – Plastics and cans – Glass bottles and jars Garden waste: 240L wheeled bin – Garden waste – Cardboard – Food waste Fortnightly: Black bin collection -Residual waste Garden Waste: 240L wheeled bin: - Garden waste Weekly: Unsorted recycling box collection: All Newspapers, magazines, cardboard, paper, glass, jars, cans, metals, plastic bottles and other rigid plastics inc yoghurt pots, margarine tubs and food containers. Separate food waste collection

6 Breakdown of options Service optionAdditional Contract Costs £000sAnticipated additional Income £000s Potential recycling rate Cabinet proposal March 2012 Fortnightly commingled recycling Weekly food waste £549K - annual Vehicles/operational costs £300K - one off - Food caddies £576K60 – 65% Weekly recycling collection Option 1 – introduce 240litre wheeled bins £718K – annual vehicle/operational costs £300K – one off – Food caddies £1.2m –one off costs for wheeled bins £96k distribution costs £576K **up to £250k Plus share of savings for County/HWP of £815k* 65 – 70% Weekly recycling collection Option 2 – keep existing boxes £961K – annual vehicle/operational costs £300K – one off – Food caddies £576k Plus share of savings for County/HWP £815K* 60 – 65% *Taken from meeting between St Albans Council, County and HWP – 13 April 2012 ** This is the potential additional income that would be reached by achieving a 70% recycling rate.

7 How costs will be met NowFuture Operating costs£3.2m£3.9m Income£1.45m£2.55m Subsidy£1.75m£1.35m

8 Key Risks RiskProposed mitigation Significant changes are required to existing contract with Enterprise to achieve the 60%+ recycling rate which have legal implications. Seek legal advice on impact of proposed changes on existing contract. And the extent which the contract can be changed to enable additional investment. DCLG bid not successful or only part funded.Develop a contingency - more phased approach with changes being made without changing the waste collection operation. Focus on removing cardboard from green waste and increasing materials within the current three box system. Promote inclusion of food waste within green waste collection. Also Cabinet members may discuss our DCLG proposals with the relevant minister. Need to be successful in negotiating savings share with Herts Waste Partnership (HWP) and County. Discuss with members of the HWP and County backed by figures demonstrating potential savings that can be achieved. This on top of existing ongoing negotiations. Increased participation rates by residents not high enough to achieve the target recycling rates required and thus not generate potential increased income and savings. Comprehensive communication plan in place, with key messages to encourage people to increase recycling and reduce what they place in residual waste. Enterprise find implementing changes difficult within the timescales of the project. Continue working closely in partnership with contractor and keep them included in the ongoing project to deliver a 60%+ recycling target Existing County contractual obligations regarding waste disposal does not allow the Council to move as quickly as it wants. Work in partnership with HWP and County to explore flexibility within existing contracts. Negotiate with suppliers regarding changes to contracts enable implementation of our plan.

9 Prepare Phased Implementation ActionDate by Update DCLG bid for submission17 th August Begin procurement of vehicles through EnterpriseSeptember 2012 Develop comprehensive roll out phase in partnership with EnterpriseSeptember/October 2012 Prepare communication to support roll out.September 2012 Ongoing preparation for the removal of cardboard from green waste into the recycling collection October 2012 Prepare for the increase of the amount and type of materials able to be recycled within St Albans. (Negotiations ongoing with all current local and county contracts for increased disposal of additional materials). October 2012

10 Government funding Outline bid submitted to DCLG Feedback: – Third of three priority categories – Explain impact of food collection for residents in flats – More evidence on financial projections and additional resources needed – Review environmental impact – Either submit stand alone bid or partnership bid Final bid to be submitted by 17 August 2012 Weekly recycling proposal likely to be more attractive to Government, as closer to their top priorities Recommend submitting as stand alone bid, as goes beyond what Herts Waste Partnership have agreed (but with their endorsement as a pilot)

11 Summary Residents can expect: Weekly collections of recycling and food waste Easier to recycle (no sorting, all in one bin) Increased range of materials to recycle (including plastics) Food caddy to hold food waste cleanly Removal of smelly waste every week No additional costs Step change in recycling rates – reduced waste to landfill

12 Recommendations Introduce a weekly rather than fortnightly collection of dry mixed recycling materials (glass, cans, plastic, paper etc), if our DCLG funding is successful. Include in the bid to DCLG an extra £169k of annual operational costs over the £549k previously agreed by Cabinet Incur one off costs of £1.2m in new 240 litre wheeled and Euro 1100 bins (for flats) to collect the recycling and a £96k distribution cost for these bins. Change the final funding bid to DCLG to a stand alone application to include a weekly dry mixed recycling materials collection. Carry out a phased implementation between October 2012 and March 2013.