Agenda item

To hear the presentation of the Head of Service – Environment and Waste.

The Head of Service – Environment and Waste and the Resource Recovery Manager gave a presentation, slides attached, making the following points: 

• this was the most high-risk area for local authorities, having vehicles, manual handling, waste itself as well as the MRF team sorting items; 

• the team were out in all weather and temperatures and achieving 99.88% success rate with collections; 

• there had been an increase in garden waste customers; 

• the Resource Recovery Manager ensured the best return for the city for the waste and was always looking at new opportunities to sell to the market; 

• Exeter was one of the lowest in the country for waste production and the service topped the satisfaction chart at 79% in the residents’ survey; 

• this was the only service other than Royal Mail to visit every property once a week and now this was increased to twice a week meaning it had a visible presence in the city; 

• the recycling rate in the city was increasing but packaging was getting lighter and garden waste had been impacted by the weather; 

• introduction of food waste collection meant the biggest behaviour change in 25 years for the service which was a challenge to deliver; 

• agreed significant investment in a new MRF and proposed envirohub was welcomed and an aspirational date for the new operation to be commissioned would be July 2027; 

• this was a dangerous industry and fires did occur but the team acted professionally to deal with these and the fire service had attended in less than 5 minutes when called recently. Lithium batteries were a risk and were in many household items and a simple mitigation had been put in place at the depot with fire sand buckets available in a number of areas; and 

• the A-Z of recycling was always being updated and members’ should direct residents to it - A - Z of recycling, waste and materials - Introduction - Exeter City Council 

The Head of Service – Environment and Waste and the Resource Recovery Manager responded to Members’ questions in the following terms: 

• an officer had spent a lot of time liaising with external organisation regarding road works and proactive works but much was sub-contracted which made this difficult. A banner had been placed on the Council website but this was a particularly difficult time due to the amount of works currently being undertaken in the city; and 

• vapes were not the only risk, greetings cards and wearable technology also contained lithium batteries which were a major safety issue and HSE were looking at the issues. These items were in homes not just the waste industry and ethical purchasing was required as global slavery was utilised in producing some items. 

During discussions the following points were made: 

• an online solution where roadworks were planned could be to enable communities to share messages about where to put bins; 

• re-purposing was great, for example, seats at the football club and sea waste being made into kayaks; and 

• Exeter Canal and Quay Trust were organising a sustainable seas festival in June. 

The Portfolio Holder for City Management stated that the new MRF would have an over 90% capture rate which would improve the city’s recycling rate and it was appropriate to note the message of the waste hierarchy of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.