Agenda item

Consideration was given to assessments of progress on the implementation of the recommendations from the Committee’s previously completed review of Domestic Waste Collection, Kerbside Recycling, and Green Waste. This was the fourth update, and two recommendations were assessed as fully achieved while one, regarding the communications and community engagement plan, remained on track due to engagement continuing until October 2026.

The Committee received a presentation as part of the update which outlined the following information:

• In the first month of the change to collections, April 2026, there was a reduction of approximately 1,800 tonnes (35%) of general waste collected from the kerbside, an increase from approximately 700 tonnes to over 1,000 tonnes of dry recycling collected, and 500 tonnes of food waste collected (55% increase of overall recycling tonnage).
• The amount collected exceeded the expected level of participation in recycling and food waste collection, which was 45-50% participation. Rounds were modelled on 65% participation level however the first few weeks saw 80% participation therefore there were some challenges and additional vehicles were needed.
• There had been issues with residents leaving out large amounts of bulky cardboard which could not be collected at the kerbside, and there was a need to highlight to residents that these should be either flattened and placed in the white sacks if they could be or taken to the recycling centre. The crews would collect multiple white bags of cardboard from the kerbside.
• The in-cab system tracked where vehicles were in real time, which helped to manage rounds and send crews to rounds which needed additional support. It also gave live information on participation levels and if there had been contamination issues.
• There had been an extensive communications and engagement plan using a range of channels, and engagement would continue until October 2026. The team had found that when speaking to residents who were nervous about the change, once they started to recycle they realised the system was ok.
• Green Waste subscriptions had also exceeded expectation, with 25% of households signed up and regular requests for new bins.

It was questioned whether green waste would be collected if it was put out in bags and officers informed that due to the new vehicles collecting the green waste having bin lifts, the crew were unable to collect green waste bags. The Committee requested further information regarding the projected number for year 2 green waste bins.

The bags for food waste were raised, with members commenting that they easily split, and officers informed that these had been bought in bulk, however would review the type of bags when purchasing again. 

The Committee discussed the perception on social media of increased rats associated with the food waste collection and increased fires due to moving to fortnightly general waste collection. It was noted that there had been no increase in the reports of either to the Waste team, Environmental Health or Cleveland Fire Brigade since the change in collections. The Committee also discussed complaints regarding bins not being collected due to recycling and general waste being collected at different times of the day, and it was suggested that communications could reinforce this message.

Members questioned whether all the new vehicles ordered had been delivered and it was confirmed that they had, however not all had been rolled out as they needed time to bed in. Due to the increase in recycling being higher than expected, extra vehicles were needed, including spare vehicles to make sure that if one goes down there is another that can cover. The cost of the extra vehicles would be covered by funding from government and savings made through increased recycling. Where old vehicles were still being used there was a perception that the recycling was being mixed in the vehicles due to it being difficult to see the back, however there was some separation taking place.

The eligibility for larger bins was discussed, which included that the household must recycle, there was a medical reason why the household was generating more general waste, and the number of people living at the property.

The change to rounds was discussed, with these being refined to reflect the frequency changes in recycling and general waste collections, along with the higher concentration of garden waste collections in particular areas. The days of the collections had not changed to make it easier for residents.

Engagement and education regarding recycling was discussed and officers noted that the engagement team had visited over 30 schools. There would be further engagement with schools from September 2026.

The Committee commended the officers for the implementation of the major changes to waste collections. The Committee also commended residents for the uptake in recycling. 

The Committee requested that the next progress report be presented in December 2026, following the end of the engagement plan.

AGREED that the progress update be noted and a further update be presented in December 2026.