Presentation – To Follow.

The Committee received a presentation on the waste and recycling covering service initiatives; current priorities and the priorities going forward. The  protection of the environment and the health of the population is a key issue for the Borough’s residential and businesses communities. The main points raised as a result of questioning maybe summarised as follows:

The Committee:

v  Indicated that it wished to know (i) how waste and recycling is performing since the Service came back in-house; (ii) how the Service is responding to  resident complaints (e.g. missed bin collections; fly-tipping contamination of recycling and issues with the underground waste storage systems over the more traditional wheeled bin system).

v  Noted with regard to underground refuse service there have been issues with the specially adapted collection vehicles breaking down and to ensure that collections are made at every site, operatives have  at times had to mix the general household waste and recycling collections which makes it difficult to segregate the general household waste from the recycling.

v  In response it was noted that the report were in relation to general household waste and recycling collections and not the underground refuse service. The Committee was advised that that was not normal practice and would need the details of any report so that it could be investigated and resolved. Notwithstanding the indicated that the perception amongst some residents is that at times recycling is being taken away as general household waste.

v  Noted that LBTH takes a zero-tolerance approach with those who illegally dump waste whether it is a business or an individual, it is unacceptable behaviour. The Strategy to address illegal waste is supported by an effective programme of communication on the deterrent and enforcement.

v  Noted that wherever possible contaminated waste is marked up by the crews very clearly so that residents know this is contaminated recycling and will be picked within a 24-hour frame.

v  Noted that LBTH has recently launched a new scheme entitled “Champions Recycling Champions” it is aimed at anyone over 18 who lives in Tower Hamlets or works for a housing provider or community organisation in Tower Hamlets and is interested in improving recycling and reducing waste. The Recycling Champions help to spread the word about reducing, reusing, and recycling in Tower Hamlets! They are intended to make a positive contribution to their neighbourhood, help the environment, meet new people, and learn new things. The Champions remit therefore is really to encourage their peers and neighbours to recycle and reduce waste. There is also information on the website and those who want to take ownership of their neighbourhood and want to be involved can complete an online form, also LBTH is keen to be interactive and are looking at ways to communicate the message regarding waste and recycling.

v  Was also advised that LBTH hold regular meetings with Borough’s Housing Association’s which helps to maintain a dialogue and the specific issue of  additional charges has been raised and LBTH are working closely with housing providers on an individual basis to address any situations and challenges.

v  Questioned the effectiveness of the Love Your Neighbourhood (LYN) app and noted that work is being undertaken to improve the app to ensure that it is fully functional alongside the website.

v  Noted that the removal and disposal of illegally dumped waste is a growing problem in the Borough due to an apparent irresponsible behaviour by householders and business, which seems to indicate a general lack of understanding amongst the perpetrators that getting rid of these items properly can be time consuming and costly, and this kind of misconceived inconvenience often leads to waste crimes which is also costly to the Borough, wasting precious funds that could be beneficial to the local community.

v  Noted the importance of the condition of any on street could be contributing to fly-tipping problems such as simply having more bins especially where there is a heavy footfall helps with the litter issue (e.g. the introduction of “smart bins” across the Borough that notifies the Public Realm Team when it's full, enabling it to be emptied it before it overflows.

v  Welcomed the intention by LBTH to be more interactive with residents and businesses on issues such where would be a good location to install put “smart bins”.

v  Agreed that it is really important that LBTH continues to promote the right messages regarding recycling (e.g. residents can put their recycling into communal recycling bins loose; put their recycling in the bin in any clear plastic bag or that Idea Stores will now take small electrical items).

v  Noted that as part of the Council’s commitment to reduce single-use plastic, improve the quality of recycling and save money, LBTH plans to introduce reusable recycling bags to replace single use plastic bags for recycling collections. These new bags will reduce the amount of single use plastic in use, therefore lessening the impact on the local environment and the recycling market prefers to receive the material loose, so removing single use plastic bags should reduce processing cost.

v  Noted that given the number of URS bins becoming inoperable across Tower Hamels LBTH have been liaising with the managing agents and advised them that they need to put in arrangements for their maintenance and repair of the URS bins.

v  Noted that the managing agents do recognize that it is their responsibility to manage and maintain the URS bins.

v  Noted that the incidents of fly-tipping is persistent across the Boroughs estates which is time consuming and expensive for us as on a daily basis LBTH is collecting three truckloads of dumped waste every single day Monday to Friday.

v  Noted that fly tipping by businesses costs LBTH about £1.5 million a year in lost revenue.

v  Noted that it is difficult for LBTH as a local authority to pick up waste on private land, although LBTH are in an ongoing dialogue with the managing agents on how best they can deal with the waste that has been dumped on their estates.  However, that is something that needs continuous dialogue with managing agents, because it is their responsibility to pick up the waste that is being dumped around the URS bins. Which if it is  not removed then as with other things that affect local environment quality, those areas subject to repeated fly-damages the environment, and impact on the quality of life on local estates.

v  Was informed that in terms of resilience the Service currently has two URS Vehicles that are 68 plates, so they are just about two years old and these vehicles have got cranes on top of them to lift up the URS units.  These cranes are very specialists with many moving parts and they have to lift 30 bins every single day per vehicle which means that there is bound to be a lot of stress on each crane.  Therefore, the Service has increased the frequency from a three month to a monthly regime of maintenance.  In addition, there is a fitter based at the depot who inspects the URS vehicles and their cranes on a daily basis to ensure that that they can have these vehicles deployed on a day-to-day basis.  In addition, the Service has an older vehicle which has been taken out of service for refurbishment and the crane has also been made compliant and is scheduled to be back in service in the next few weeks.

v  Noted that the Service has purchased a new vehicle but it takes approximately about a year and a half to put such vehicles together. As the body are obtained from a company in the Netherlands and the crane is source from another manufacture.  The vehicle should be in service by January 2022 and the Service will have a full complement or vehicles so the Service should run without too challenges and situations.

v  Expressed concern regarding the apparent poor maintenance of the Underground Refuse System [URS].

v  Indicated that they supported LBTH working with the various managing agents to put robust maintenance agreements in place and then making sure that the repairs and maintenance regime is being followed.

v  Noted that the URS bins are owned by the managing agents of a particular estate (e.g. Tower Hamlets Community Housing) who have to have in place a maintenance regime for the URS bins to address any damage that naturally and inevitably occurs as a result of normal wear or aging.  Whilst damage as a result of crews from public realm will be addressed by LBTH.  The assessment of any damage is undertaken by the supplier of the URS to indicate who is liable for the repairs.

v  Noted that the Tower Hamlets Housing Forum have indicated that they have seen an immense improvement in the way that LBTH are dealing with. The URS bins and surface waste collections including any contingency arrangements should one of the current URS vehicles have been taken out of service for repair and maintenance.

v  Observed that LBTH accepts that there are some issues with street cleansing and the Service is looking at those issues in terms of what they might be addressed.

v  Noted that one of the one of the key issues that needs to be addressed is whether the Service has got the frequency of cleaning and enforcement right especially in those areas of the Borough with a vibrant night-time economy and after the Christmas period.  In addition, the Service is not only looking at the route optimization but whether or not additional vehicles are needed on those routes, or whether the Service has the right resources in the right places, or what additional resources are needed to be put in place (e.g. there is a need for really good supervision in place to make sure that people are doing what they are paid to do and to do it to a good standard).

v  Understood that whilst LBTH has some very good team members  who are doing a great job in very difficult conditions all year round there are some staff who require closer supervision.

v  Expressed concern regarding the impact on the local community of the Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC) in Yabsley St and the waste transfer station at Northumberland Wharf and wanted to know what LBTH are doing in terms of mitigating the concerns of residents (e.g. vehicles leaking fluids onto the highway; noise; or queueing traffic).

v  Noted that these concerns are addressed but then are raised again in a few months’ time. Therefore, LBTH need to make sure that there is proper and robust contract management right of those who manage the site to make sure they are on the case in terms of what they should be doing to minimize impact in that area (e.g. managing traffic; street cleansing and street washing in the summer).

v  Noted that consideration also needs to be given to alonger-term solution (i.e. Is Yabsley Street still fit for purpose in terms of the Borough’s growing population; do we need another site or do we need to relocate the site).

Following a full and wide-ranging discussion, the Chair thanked all those Committee Members in attendance together with (i) Councillor Asma Islam

(Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning); (ii) Dan Jones (Director, Public Realm); (iii) Catherine Cooke (Contract Development Manager); (iv) Oli Kapopo (Access to Employment (Skillsmatch); and (v) Richard Williams Business Manager Operational PR for their contributions to what had been a really positive discussion on this critical issue.

Accordingly, the Committee resolved that:

1. contamination of waste and recycling needs to be investigated as impact on residents confidence.
2. there is a need to increase profile of Recycling Champions as no one seems to have heard of the new programme. It was also felt that it is important that Members are engaging in promoting this scheme given their wide reach to local communities and can support engagement from residents.
3. it was important to get clarity on what additional costs housing providers are incurring on waste removal and are being charged to leaseholders.
4. it needs to be communicated to residents that idea stores can drop off small electrical items.

5. whilst they welcomed the investment in the URS vehicles fleet to increase capacity they wanted to continue to receive updates on the operation of the URS fleet as it continues to cause significant issues on local estates.

6. given the Boroughs growing population and the programme of regeneration it was important to ensure that LBTH are planning for now and future needs.

7. in regard to street cleansing there is a need to need to prioritize including  reviewing if the frequency of street cleaning is right and if LBTH have the right resources at the right place and if additional resources is needed.

8. need to look at the (i) impact of Reuse and Recycling Centre (RRC) in Yabsley St and waste transfer station at Northumberland Wharf on local residents; (ii) contract with the sites management; (iii) future mitigations as well and if this is still the right location to have that such facilities and should LBTH relocate these facilities.
9. Officers should be commended on having delivered food waste recycling into the Bow and is a really positive first step in the roll out of further food waste recycling.
10. LBTH needs to improve performance in regard to contaminated recycling.
11. Missed collections are then being followed up within 24 hours and to receive more data on that that shows is being achieved.

12. LBTH and the Housing Providers look at the appropriate placement of bins, (i.e. not simply place them in front of residents front doors).

13. The whole collection process in relation to the URS bins is the subject of regular scrutiny.

14. With regard to enforcement LBTH should be willing to be more robust than in the past (e.g. LBTH should publicise any successful court cases so people know that there are real penalties) ; and
15. On housing development where paladins are used for recycling the housing management need to know that there will be penalties if the paladins are contaminated and that they need to ensure that their tenants and leaseholders know that.