Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Service Delivery (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the report from the Director of Service Delivery which provided an update on the collection of waste within the district, and addressed Members previous concerns surrounding contractor vehicles and the end destination of recycling from the district.  The Director of Service Delivery introduced Mr Matthew Canning, the Recycling and Recovery UK Regional Manager from Suez, and Maldon District Council’s Waste and Street Scene Manager, Ms Carol Love, who had been invited to attend the Committee and respond to questions raised by Members at the previous meeting.

·                Waste Collection – Contractor Vehicles 

Mr Canning was invited to address Members’ concerns on the breakdown of vehicles on routes within the district.

In response to Members questions Mr Canning provided the following information:

·                Meetings were taking place with the manufactures (chassis, body and bin lift) to find any trends on the breakdowns as problems had been experienced in all these areas.

·                There was no obvious trend in the problems experienced with vehicles.

·                Since May 2018 the number of breakdowns had reduced.

·                A performance review of the fleet would take place with the manufacture on 24th October 2018.

·                Breakdowns were not isolated to a specific problem/area.

·                Since the start of the contract the number of spare vehicles had increased from one to three to maintain the service within the Maldon District.

·                Vehicles are inspected prior to use on a daily basis, maintained in accordance with the Operator’s Licence every six weeks, and have an MOT annually.

Mr Canning invited Members to the yard to view the facilities.  He advised that Suez had honourable intentions and apologised for any issues caused.

·                Recycling

The Waste and Street Scene Manager advised the Committee that the districts pink recycling bags go to Essex Reclamation in Witham for sorting.  The Committee was informed that following the Officers visit to the facility, an invite to Members was extended on behalf of Mr John Bassett, the New Business Development Manager at Essex Reclamation.

In response to Members questions the following information was provided by Mr Canning, the Recycling and Recovery UK Regional Manager from Suez, and Ms Love, The Waste and Street Scene Manager:

·                Officers were satisfied that waste is being sorted and disposed of properly.

·                A monthly return is provided to the Environment Agency on the end destination for all materials from the site and checked against Essex Reclamations permit.

·                The majority of waste sent abroad comes from paper, whilst plastics remain within the UK:

o   Paperlink exports the majority of paper waste.

o   Monoworld – sorts the plastic waste.

·                Recycled material is sent abroad in sealed containers which are photographed prior to departure and on arrival to confirm no tampering has occurred.
 

          Members complemented the Council on the success of its waste campaign and informed the Council that there was a decrease in the number of complaints they had received concerning collection.  The Committee suggested that the Council publicise the end destination of waste.   The Waste and Street Scene Manager confirmed that the Council was working with Essex Reclamation on an article for the Courier and Wasteaway magazine, and on completion they would look at further media coverage.

·                Waste Collection –Vehicles Access

The Waste and Street Scene Manager provided the following answers to additional queries raised by the Committee:

·                Access problems at the new estate on Southminster Road was a result of ongoing works at the site.  The work was near completion and no access problems had been reported in the previous week.

·                The Council identified damaged roads with assistance from Suez. 

·                Road works also cause problems for access for Suez.

·                Missed collections from access issues caused by poor road conditions or adverse weather had been mitigated by corresponding with residents and providing temporary collection points.

The Chairman thanked Mr Canning for his attendance.

RESOLVED

(i)                 That the content of this report and actions as outlined above be noted.