The Committee will receive a presentation to review service delivery around:

1.    Waste Management and formations of new strategy;

2.    Street cleanliness (current contract); and

3.    Behaviour Changes.

The Committee received and noted a presentation from Tom McCourt (Strategic Director) and Dan Jones Divisional Director, Public Realm on Street Cleanliness and Waste Collection and Recycling within Tower Hamlets. The main points of the presentation are outlined below:

The Committee:

·         Noted that Councillor Dipa Das the Scrutiny Lead for Place is involved in regular briefings with the Directorate Team on the progress Street Cleanliness and Waste Collection and Recycling within Tower Hamlets;

·         Noted that waste reduction is an important issue in terms of both preserving the global environment and alleviating the burden on incinerators and other waste disposal facilities;

·         Was advised that the aim is to minimize waste generation, maximize recycling of wastes that are generated, and properly dispose of wastes that cannot be recycled;

·         Noted with regards to litter; fly tipping and enforcement in Tower Hamlets it is acknowledge residents all want to enjoy safe clean streets. Therefore, should residents require help with enforcement due to irresponsible behaviour by others they can contact the Council’s Street Care Team;

·         Noted that due to the wide diversity of properties within Tower Hamlets it is necessary to have different recycling containers and collection methods (i) Houses or houses converted into flats: recycling is usually collected in clear sacks or from a purple wheelie bins from the kerbside each week; (ii) Estate or block of flats mostly have purple communal bins in the bin store area or within the grounds; and (iii) Flats above shops the recycling is normally collected in clear sacks from the kerbside;

·         Noted that it is against the law to allow a dog to foul in a public place and make no attempt to clean up after it. If caught owners can face a Fixed Penalty Fine;

·         Noted that that dog fouling is a concern for many residents on housing estates and that whilst there are various means available to housing providers to take action against dog owners who allow their dogs to defecate on estates there is concern that not every provider is robust in their response;

·         Was reminded that the Mayor in Cabinet on 30^th October, 2018 had agreed that an in-house waste collection, recycling and street cleansing service should be created to “improve services for residents” from 1 April 2020;

·         Noted that the Council’s existing contract with waste management firm Veolia is due to end at that time;

·         Noted that Tower Hamlets’ population is projected to increase by almost 60,000 in the next decade to 370,000, almost twice as fast as the London average. Therefore, a growing population means increased demand on waste service  and bringing services in-house will deliver a better service to both residents and businesses;

·         Noted that there is a need to educate residents, landlords and businesses in regards to what actually constitutes fly-tipping, and many people may be fly-tipping without realising it;

·         Was advised that certain fly-tipping behaviours are seen as more socially acceptable by perceptions of ‘helping others out’, for example leaving an item out for someone else to reuse;

·         Noted that there is a lack of understanding by residents, landlords and businesses about the impacts of fly-tipping and many see the behaviour as low impact and low cost;

·         Was informed that there is an expectation that some residents, landlords and businesses seem to think that fly-tipped items will be collected quickly and without repercussions; this reinforces perceptions that fly-tipping is ‘low impact’;

·         Noted that the recycling rates from flats can differ and will not be comparable to those for kerbside collections. In addition, there are additional barriers that can prevent people living in flats from easily recycling, such as limited storage space and the ease with which materials can be transported to a collection point;

·         Noted that the Council are working with Tower Hamlets Homes and the Peabody Housing Association to address such issues with their tenants and residents;

·         Noted that a new recycling improvement and engagement team is being set up to deliver recycling initiatives with schools and support residents to reduce waste, reuse items where possible and recycle more; 

·         Recognised that effective monitoring of the performance of the waste, recycling and cleansing contract is an essential first step to identifying ways to improve;

·         Noted that those staff are responding to the changes in a positive fashion;

·         Noted that there will need to be an effective dialogue with residents, landlords and businesses regarding education, advice and enforcement action to deal with environmental offences. In addition action is required with parking to deal with regular obstruction of access for collection crews; and

·         Agreed that with regard to the existing contract this needs to be managed very effectively in the months ahead.

The Chair Moved and it was:-

RESOLVED

The Committee welcomed the report and looked forwarded to receiving updates on the development of Street Cleansing; Waste Collection and Recycling within Tower Hamlets.