Agenda item

To receive a presentation on the Walk this Waste Pilot, from Environmental Contracts Service Manager, Ruth Whaymand. The Portfolio Holder for Pride in Place and Neighbourhood Services, Cllr Christine Guinness, will also be in attendance to report on the Pilot and respond to any Members questions.

Environmental Contracts Manager, Ruth Whaymand gave a presentation on the Walk this Waste Pilot which aimed to reduce fly-tipping in the Borough. Fly-tipping had a significant impact, especially in deprived areas, and encouraged crime and anti-social behaviour.

The Pilot, to provide a free bulky waste collection, was aimed at reducing fly-tipping in the most deprived areas and targeted residents with no access to transport or funds to dispose of their own bulky waste. A mobile collection vehicle undertook nine events, each with multiple stopping points, and was limited to collecting three items per household. It was reported that, 178 residents used the service and 333 items were collected, totalling 8.34 tonnes of waste. It was noted that the Pilot did not have the desired effect of reducing incidents of fly-tipping and overall, a slight increase was recorded. The Pilot had cost approximately £5,700.

The Portfolio Holder advised that the Pilot had been well received by residents, and the choice to use a mobile vehicle had been more positive than the original choice to use a static skip. However, despite the service not reducing incidents of fly-tipping during the pilot, it was felt that should the service be extended to include one event in each ward per year at a cost of £7,970 (7p per resident a year), an impact could be achieved. The Pilot had also had a positive impact on the communities where it had been carried out.

Cllr Harden expressed his thoughts on the Pilot, and it was noted that he felt the funds could be used in a different way by targeting vulnerable or elderly people or those with more items and no ability to dispose of them themselves. He was supportive of the community aspect of the Pilot but felt that the funds shouldn’t be spent on a scheme that had been proven not to work.

During discussion, the Committee acknowledged that the Pilot period had been short, and impacts may be seen if the Pilot were allowed to carry on for a longer period. Alternative options were also raised including, using funds from the Bulky Waste scheme to support initiatives around potential reduced rates or ward specific schemes as agreed with ward councillors. It was noted that it was important to reach those that needed the service the most and alternatives needed to be considered.

In summary, the Committee’s key observations and recommendations to the Cabinet were:

• There was no evidence that the Pilot had achieved its primary purpose of reducing fly-tipping, although it was acknowledged that this may have followed should the scheme have run over a longer period

• The Pilot clearly helped engage communities in achieving ‘Pride in Place’

• Concerns were expressed that the scheme excluded residents who were unable to carry large items to the vehicles

• The Committee requested Cabinet consider the following as alternatives to the Walk This Waste scheme:

• A review of residents’ accessibility to the bulky waste service, employing pricing incentives to encourage participation,
• bespoke ward specific measures to be agreed in consultation with Ward Councillors, and
• that both the above options should focus on the wards that experience the highest incidences of fly-tipping.

The Chair thanked Mrs Whaymand and Cllr Guinness for their presentation.