WASTE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP SEMINAR INTEGRATED RECYCLING & REFUSE COLLECTIONS.

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1 WASTE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP SEMINAR INTEGRATED RECYCLING & REFUSE COLLECTIONS. David Mansell BSc MIWM Associate Consultant, M.E.L Research Overview of Integrated Collection Options and Benchmarking with Beacon Councils 23 March 2000 Aston University Business School

2 INTEGRATED COLLECTIONS THE MAIN OPTIONS l l l Alternating services with recycling collections one week and refuse collections the next. Combined recycling and refuse collections using split-chamber vehicles. Co-mingled collections with recyclables sorted from mixed waste or co-collected bags at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). BEACON COUNCILS FOR BENCHMARKING CASE STUDY DESCRIPTIONS Bath & North East Somerset Weekly green box recycling collections for paper, glass, cans, foil, textiles, car batteries, sump oil and filters, which cover about 45,000 households. Introduced following a series of trials in Plastic bottles also accepted in some areas. Other recycling services include Mini- Recycling Centres for flats and green bag service for residents in central commercial area of Bath. Households not covered by these services served by monthly kerbside recycling collections. Bexley Fortnightly box recycling collections for paper that operates throughout the Borough, with boxes introduced in early Network of Mini-Recycling Centres and micro-recycling facilities at schools, businesses and multiple-occupancy premises. Waste for disposal taken to SELCHP energy from waste plant, from which metals and ash are recycled. Hounslow Weekly green box recycling collections, based on Bath model, for paper, cardboard, glass and cans. Kerbside sorting into caged vehicles to avoid need for a MRF. Launched in September 1996 and expanded to 71,450 households by early St Edmundsbury Fortnightly brown bin composting collections for food and garden waste and cardboard, which were first trialed with other options in Also fortnightly wheeled bin collections for newspapers and magazines, launched in July Wealden CROWN (Composting and Recycling Our Waste Now) service with collections for refuse (240- litre wheeled bins) alternating with collections for composting (240-litre wheeled bins) and recycling (blue box). Service first piloted in June 1998 and then extended to a further 4,300 households by October The council now plans to extend the CROWN service to a further 5,500 households every 6 months. Project Integra, Hampshire A county-wide household waste management partnership involving the County Council, 2 Unitaries, 11 Districts and Hampshire Waste Services. FAREHAM, Hampshire Fortnightly recycling collections using blue-topped wheeled bins for paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles, that were introduced throughout the District between May 1992 and August NEW FOREST, Hampshire Weekly recycling collections using clear sacks for paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles, that were phased-in from April 1995 to July PORTSMOUTH, Hampshire Fortnightly recycling collections with boxes for paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles, that were first launched in April Flats are served weekly using a variety of containment systems. Collections steadily expanded to now cover 65,000 households. TEST VALLEY, Hampshire Weekly refuse collections with alternating collections for recyclables (paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles) and compostables using split-bodied vehicles. Service first launched in 1991 with recyclables now sorted at the new Portsmouth MRF. WINCHESTER, Hampshire Weekly recycling collections for paper (newspapers and magazines), cans and plastic bottles. Residents put out in carrier bags for separate collection on same day as refuse (which

3 is collected in wheeled bins). Launched in April Fortnightly recycling collections using 140-litre bins are being phased in and expected to cover whole District by April PRESENTATIONS AT 29 FEBRUARY 2000 SEMINAR Bedfordshire Co-mingled weekly collections of orange recycling bags with household refuse that are collected by standard refuse collection vehicles and transported to a central MRF/Transfer Station at Elstow. First launched in September 1998 and recently expanded to cover 160,000 households in all three District Council areas covered by the County Council. Castle Morpeth Alternating refuse and organic waste collections that cover 5,000 households (since March 1993) and alternating refuse and recycling collections covering another 1,600 households (from September 1997). Both services use wheeled bins and standard RCVs. In addition, there is a high performing bring scheme with a density of one centre for every 500 households. These operations are moving into a new purpose-built MRF and composting station, which will allow the further expansion of these services throughout Castle Morpeth and new collections in the adjoining Boroughs. Hart Combined collections of wheeled bins for refuse (240-litre) and recycling (140-litre) using splitchamber collection vehicles, that has been operating in the District since 1995/96 and was rolled out to cover all 33,000 households in the District by the beginning of Part of Project Integra in Hampshire. Sutton Alternating collections of refuse and recyclables using wheeled bins and standard refuse collection vehicles. Initial trials, following the Eastleigh model, covered 4,150 households from November Now serving 20,000 households and to be further expanded to cover the rest of the Borough in 2000, with material sorted at a new purpose-built MRF with a 24,000 tonne capacity. The Borough s recycling rate is increasing as the alternating service is extended. In areas already served, the diversion from bin waste achieved through the alternating service alone is about 30% with a further 5% achieved through home composting. PRESENTATIONS AT 23 MARCH 2000 SEMINAR Chester Chester s Environmental Recycling Scheme (CHEERS) has served all 51,000 households in the District since This service provides alternating collections for plastics & cans in pink bags one week and paper & textiles in green bags the next. The recyclables are collected in split-chamber RCVs at the same time as refuse and taken to a MRF for sorting. Eastleigh Alternating collections of refuse and recyclables using wheeled bins and standard refuse collection vehicles for paper, cardboard, cans and plastic bottles. The system was successfully piloted in 1996 and by November 1998 was extended borough-wide. Part of Project Integra in Hampshire. Isle of Wight Combined collections of refuse in black sacks and special buckets for food waste using nine split-chamber RCVs. The former stream is converted into refuse derived fuel (RDF) and the latter mixed with garden waste for composting. Aluminium and steel cans are separated for recycling at the RDF plant. Island Waste also operates fortnightly black box collections for paper and 46 bring sites. Waveney, Suffolk Anti-Waste Ltd, part of the Waste Recycling Group, have invested 2m in a mixed waste MRF at Lowestoft to handle all household waste collected in Waveney. In addition to the 9% recycling rate already achieved in the District, the Lowestoft MRF has the potential to divert a further 20% through conversion of the organic fraction into soil improver. BENCHMARKING TABLES The following tables provide comparable data for recycling in all of the areas described above. As far as possible, the same definitions have been used throughout. Recycling and recovery rates are measured using the new definitions for Best Value Performance Indicators. Although collections by both the Waste Collection and Waste Disposal Authorities in each district have been combined (except for Chester), so that all waste services in each area are taken into account.

4 INTEGRATED COLLECTION CASE STUDIES AND BEACON COUNCILS RECYCLING AND RECOVERY RATES AND SERVICE CONTRIBUTIONS Households (Number) BV Performance Indicators (8) SERVICE CONTRIBUTION TO TOTAL RECYCLED (9) plus Kerbside, 1998/99 Data Whole Main Recycling & Energy Main Other Bring Civic Am. EFW Plant Bring & CA Site (except where stated) District Kerbside Composting Rate Recovery Rate Kerbside Kerbside Schemes Sites Recycling Bring to RDF BEACONS Bath & NE Somerset (1) 67,000 45,000 17% 48% 7% 6% 39% 0% Bexley 94,654 86,600 22% 50% 43% 0% 11% 35% 11% Hounslow 71,450 71,450 12% 56% 0% 44% with Bring 0% St Edmundsbury (2) 42,000 22,000 26% 67% 2% 11% 20% 0% HAMPSHIRE Fareham 43,763 43,500 24% 45% 0% 12% 43% 0% New Forest 74,150 57,000 31% 22% 0% 18% 60% 0% Portsmouth 81,473 65,000 14% 34% 0% 22% 44% 0% Test Valley - also integrated 42,188 33,000 21% 37% 0% 18% 45% 0% Winchester 44,200 44,000 22% 38% 0% 16% 46% 0% INTEGRATED ALTERNATING Castle Morpeth 20,400 5,000 29% 38% 5% 57% 0% 0% Eastleigh (3) 47,000 44,650 29% 41% 0% 11% 47% 0% Sutton (4) 74,500 5,000 18% 10% 53% 19% 17% 0% SPLIT Chester (5) 52,000 51,000 11% 70% 11% 20% N/S 0% Hart - also Hampshire Beacon 32,700 30,500 18% 34% 0% 29% 38% 0% Isle of Wight (6) 61,000 61,000 19% 26% 7% 0% 8% 56% 5% 24% CO-MINGLED Bedfordshire (7) 160, ,000 8% 51% 0% 25% 24% 0% Waveney (3) 51,936 51,936 25% 64% 8% 10% 18% 0% (1) Split for tonnes recycled by kerbside collections between 'main' and 'other' services has been estimated on basis of previous results, as no longer separately weighed. (2) Main service for organic wastes. Also separate kerbside fortnightly collections with wheeled bins for paper covering 24,000 households. (3) Integrated recycling totals based on monthly average for 1999/00 to date. (4) Disposal data for 1998/99. Recycling data based on projections from average monthly performance in 1999/2000. Service now expanded to 20,000 households. (5) WCA data only. Other kerbside collections consist of Council collections for white goods (120 tonnes) and furniture project collections (440), which together contribute 1.2% to Chester's recycling rate. (6) Data for 12-month period from November 1998 to October (7) Data for 1999/00 based on a full year estimate from monthly statistics to date since October (8) Calculated on basis of definitions for new Best Value Performance Indicators for WCA & WDA collections in area. Recycling (182a) combined with composting (182b). Energy recovery (182c). (9) Shows contribution each service makes to overall recycling performance (eg in Bexley kerbside contributes 43%, bring another 11% and other services remaining 46%). Kerbside excludes MRF rejects. David Mansell, M.E.L Research - March 2000

5 INTEGRATED COLLECTION CASE STUDIES AND BEACON COUNCILS RECYCLING SERVICES AND PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS PER HOUSEHOLD SERVED BEACONS MATERIALS COLLECTED (A) KG per HOUSEHOLD per ANNUM Container Frequency Paper Card Glass Other Dry Organics TOTAL DRY Paper Organics Bath & NE Somerset Green Box Weekly n n Bexley Box Fortnightly n n Hounslow Box Weekly n n n St Edmundsbury Brown Bin Fortnightly n n + Card HAMPSHIRE Fareham Bin Fortnightly n n (B) New Forest Clear Sack Weekly n n (B) Portsmouth Box Fortnightly n n Test Valley - also integrated Brown Bin Fortnightly n n 2 n 45 (B) 81 Winchester Carrier Bags Weekly n 2 94 (B) INTEGRATED ALTERNATING Castle Morpeth Bins Fortnightly n n 2 n Eastleigh Bins Fortnightly n n Sutton Bins Fortnightly n n (B) SPLIT Chester 2 Bags Alternate n n Hart - Hampshire Beacon (C) Blue Bin Weekly n Isle of Wight Bucket Weekly Food 18 CO-MINGLED Bedfordshire Orange Bag Weekly n Waveney None Weekly n 231 NOTES (also see notes on accompanying table for time periods and details of data derived from estimates) (A) Organics are food and garden waste or as indicated. (B) Quantity of paper not available as sorted at MRF with material from other areas. (C) Paper quantity estimated as, after the total collected is weighed, all recyclables are sorted at MRF with materials from other areas. David Mansell, M.E.L Research - March 2000

6 INTEGRATED RECYCLING & REFUSE COLLECTIONS WORKSHOPS NOTES The following report summarises some of the issues discussed at the afternoon workshops for the seminars organised by M.E.L Research on both 29 February 2000 and 23 March INTEGRATED COLLECTIONS IN GENERAL POSITIVE Allows lower cost approach to kerbside collections. Allows kerbside recycling service with less environmental impact (from engine emissions) than separate collections due to less vehicle movements. Allows sustainable long-term approach to be adopted. NEGATIVE Cost of service is still an issue. Complicate - too many concerns and problems to take into account. GENERAL Costs and savings are the key issues. Type of authority is important. Unitaries have different perspective to separate WCA and WDAs. Level playing field between separate WCAs and WDAs is required to plan integrate approach. Need to ensure majority voice of residents is heard by Council Members and not just a small vocal minority who may oppose alternating collections. Difficult to compare costs of different schemes as full costs rarely available or accounted in the same way. Public awareness of waste issues needs to be raised. Concept of refuse collection needs to be redefined for Council Members. Their education on these issues is very important and they may only be persuaded of the need for change if other influential Members champion the cause. Statutory recycling targets are needed to grasp this nettle. A visionary focus is required. ALTERNATING COLLECTIONS OPTION POSITIVE Residents nearly forced to participate in recycling. Minimises vehicle movements. Encourages residents to minimise their waste.

7 NEGATIVE Residents will not favour this option. Residents will resist fortnightly refuse collections. Suggested that service should be promoted as alternating weekly collections, which allows sustainable approach to effective recycling. Some attending thought this perceived fear may not be so great in reality. Residents may be confused as no longer weekly collections for refuse. Recycling containers may become contaminated if refuse containers are filled before collection. May cause fly-tipping. GENERAL Best to avoid collecting side waste to maximise recycling and minimise waste. Support from Council Members is essential. 140-litre bin size may be insufficient for collection every fortnight. Size of bins/containers provided is very important. A firm but fair approach is needed to implementation. Concerns may vary in different areas. Should start by implementing in a small area. Initial opposition may subside. SPLIT-CHAMBER COLLECTION VEHICLES OPTION POSITIVE Simple for householders. NEGATIVE Appears to residents that all waste loaded together and therefore all going to landfill. This could be mitigated by using signs on sides of vehicles and for organics through sale of product. Reliability of vehicles may be a problem. Payload of RCVs reduced by split. Difficult to adjust to seasonal variations in waste arisings, as divider for split-chambers fixed. Few vehicle suppliers. Risk of contamination if waste incorrectly tipped into vehicle or from cross-contamination in vehicle. More work for loaders whose support is required. GENERAL Wheeled bins should be faster to collect than back-door sacks and are better for health and safety.

8 CO-MINGLED COLLECTIONS OPTION NEGATIVE May be problems supplying material collected to end-use markets. Material may be lost due to contamination. Even with separate bags this is no better than a dirty MRF. OPTI-BAG At the seminar on 23 March 2000, one workshop group received a presentation from suppliers of a Scandinavian system called Opti-Bag. This is an automatic system for sorting co-collected colour-coded bags. Slides from this presentation are supplied with those for the other case studies at this seminar. RESULTS OF END-OF-SEMINAR STRAW POLLS ON FAVOURED OPTIONS FIRST SEMINAR - 29 FEBRUARY 2000 Which type of recycling collection would you introduce in your area(s)? Alternating refuse and recycling collections 63% Split-vehicle combined collections 8.5% Co-mingled collections with separation at a MRF 16.5% No preference or separate recycling collections 12% SECOND SEMINAR - 23 MARCH 2000 Which type of recycling collection would you introduce in your area(s)? Alternating refuse and recycling collections 54% Split-vehicle combined collections 21% Co-mingled collections with separation at a MRF 8% No preference or separate recycling collections 18%