Issue - meetings

INFORMATION NOTE OF THE SHARED SERVICE MANAGER – WASTE AND RECYCLING

Update on the mobilisation of waste, recycling and collection services from the start of the new contract in May 2025, primarily focusing on the roll out of the new waste and recycling services from August 2025.

Councillor Amy Allen, as Executive Member for Environment presented the Information Note entitled ‘Mobilisation of Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Contract’, following which Members asked questions.

Audio recording – 4 minutes 40 seconds

Councillor Amy Allen, as Executive Member for Environment presented the Information Note entitled ‘Mobilisation of Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Contract’ and advised that:

·             The report provided a focused overview of the new waste collection services and highlighted issues encountered, resolutions implemented and next steps.

·             The new service had a strategic aim to reduce waste and increase recycling which early indicators had confirmed so far.

·             Apologies were given to residents who had experienced disruptions from the initial service rollout due to route optimisation delays, missed collections, bin configurations and service frequency.

·             System refinements, training and strengthened public communications had been administered to address these issues which included the launch of a new waste app.

·             Next steps would focus on the stabilisation of service delivery, enhancement of service performance and monitoring of resident engagement to support long-term behaviour changes.

·             Lessons learned from the new contract would inform future improvements.

·             The Waste Team, Customer and Digital Services Team, Communications Team and Veolia had all been instrumental in the success of the service change.

The following Members asked questions:

·             Councillor Ralph Muncer

·             Councillor Jon Clayden

·             Councillor Martin Prescott

·             Councillor David Chalmers

·             Councillor Elizabeth Dennis

·             Councillor Claire Winchester

·             Councillor Caroline McDonnell

·             Councillor Sadie Billing

In response to questions, the Shared Service Manager – Waste & Recycling advised that:

·             After operational problems were experienced with the merger of the narrow rounds across East Herts and North Herts, the decision was taken to split the rounds back to their original routes and recruit additional experienced crew members which generated some initial improvements.

·             Information was also gathered from residents and Members on specific collection points to add to the Veolia account management system.

·             Customer complaints regarding missed collections were forwarded directly to Veolia who generated tickets for their crews to follow up on the following day.

·             Waste and recycling data shown in the report was for both East Herts and North Herts but this could be separated by district and provided after the meeting.

·             Data trends looked positive so far, however, they would need to go through more data cycles to confirm this.

·             Since the rollout, both food and carboard waste had increased in North Herts due to behavioural changes created by the new three-weekly collections.

·             Seasonal changes in waste would be seen once the waste contract had been operational for at least a year.

·             Comparisons could be made with garden waste and food waste last year as they were still collected bi-weekly and weekly respectively, however, it was acknowledged that weather variations between years would affect this data, particularly for garden waste.

·             A further increase in food waste would be targeted through increased communications to residents before Christmas.

·             Problems with street cleanliness in Barley would be addressed.

·             Litter bin removals had been carried out across the district after an audit had taken place, however, a visit to Barley could be arranged to investigate litter bins.

·             Missed litter bin collections in Letchworth could be due to personnel change or sickness but  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33