Agenda item

Report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services. (Copy attached).

With reference to paragraph 2 of the Minute of the Meeting of 18 August 2016, there had been circulated a report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services providing an update on the re-use/remarketing of goods received at Community Recycling Centres.  Ms Jenni Craig, Service Director Neighbourhood Service and Mr Ross Sharp-Dent, Waste Manager were in attendance.  Mr Sharp-Dent advised that over the last 10 years the Council had made significant changes to the way it managed waste with a focus on improving recycling performance and reducing waste going to landfill.  As people moved towards a more circular economy, where they kept products and materials in use for as long as possible, this focus was likely to shift to waste prevention and re-use.  Progress had been made by the Council in relation to re-use in the following areas:

• Supporting local re-use organisation
• Bulky Waste
• Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
• Selkirk Re-Use Pilot
• Just Cycle – Bicycle re-use
• Wood and Furniture re-use
• Textiles.

The Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP) had undertaken re-use case studies and developed a best practice guide for Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC’s).  This confirmed that there were further opportunities to improve re-use at the Council’s Community Recycling Centres.  Mr Sharp-Dent highlighted that it was important to recognise that the Council faced  a number of key challenges in improving re-use at Community Recycling Centres including : A lack of space for providing re-use facilities; a disconnect between the number of customers who wished to deposit items for re-use versus those that wanted to purchase re-used items; impending financial and legislative drivers  which required a continued focus on recycling and diversion from landfill, at least in the short to medium term.   It was clear that re-use was going to play an ever important role as we moved towards a circular economy and this required the Council to continue to make progress and explore opportunities in this area.

Mr Sharp-Dent further advised that a number of re-use organisations, most of which had charitable status, operated across the Scottish Borders e.g. Homebasics, Berwickshire Furniture (BFR) and Just Cycle.  The Council provided financial support as part of Service Level Agreements currently with Homebasics, Scrap Store and Book Donors. In return those organisations provided information on re-use, which supported the Council’s recycling performance figures. 

The Council also accepted Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) at Community Recycling Centres.  This equipment was uplifted free of charge under contract by a Producer Compliance Scheme (PCS).   However, recent changes to WEEE’s Code of Practice could mean that providers might be less inclined to support this concept going forward.  Mr Sharp-Dent went on to discuss the Selkirk Re-Use Pilot whereby the Council provided a shipping container and a Service Level Agreement with Homebasics to provide them with large domestic appliances.  This pilot had been successful.  Unfortunately, not all recycling centres had the capacity to implement this scheme due to lack of space. 

Mr Sharp-Dent referred to Galashiels Men’s Shed where the Council provided bicycles for repair and re-use.  The project had now developed into Just Cycle, a locally registered charity based at Tweedbank.  Just Cycle recycled unwanted bicycles and made them available at an affordable price.  The Waste Services section was working with Just Cycle to expand the number of bike donations at its waste facilities across the Borders.  Selkirk Community Recycling Centre would be the next facility to accept bike donations. 

Mr Sharp-Dent continued that the Waste Service section was exploring other re-use opportunities such as wood re-use.   The Council had identified space at Galashiels Community Recycling Centre for storage of wood and it was hoped to commence this operation shortly.  If this project was successful it would be extended to other sites.   Mr Sharp-Dent went on to advise that 78% (119 tonnes) of textiles went for re-use.  As part of the arrangement with Nathan Wastesavers, SBC received an income which supported wider waste services.  SBC would continue to work with the third sector to identify and develop partnership working.   

Councillor Nicol had circulated information regarding Oskars, a recycling facility in Paisley, and asked if SBC could introduce a similar scheme.  Mr Sharp-Dent advised that Oskars provided a similar facility to Homebasics and BFR.   He emphasised it was important  that the Council continued to work in tandem with these organisations and utilise their expertise to ascertain which waste streams they were able to recycle. 

Following discussion, a number of questions were raised.  In terms of staff training, Mr Sharp-Dent advised that staff had a good knowledge of what was reusable.  However, the material needed to be placed in separate, clean containers and not all sites had this storage capacity.  The lack of space was a real challenge and would require investment.   Ms Craig added that in terms of making a success of re-use and remarketing of goods, SBC needed to look at where investment was required and work with charitable organisations to draw down funding.  Strengthening partnership working was a way to progress.  With regard to the re-use of light bulbs from PPI schools in primary schools, Ms Craig would discuss with the Service Director Asset and Infrastructure and advise Members outwith the meeting.  There was a discussion on the temporary closure of sites, without notice, when goods for recycling were being uplifted.  Mr Sharp-Dent advised that a split level site enabled the site to remain open e.g. Hawick, Kelso and Selkirk sites. However, in Galashiels the site had to be closed for public safety.  It was also not feasible to advise in advance when the site would be closed as the operator travelled to many sites and was unable to specify an exact time for collection.  However, site managers did try to minimise disruption.  Hopefully, in the future, sites would be improved to allow operators to access the site without requiring closure to the public.   Mr Sharp-Dent concluded by advising that organisations such as Homebasics provided significant benefits in terms of recycling and re-use of goods. However, these organisations were voluntary. Most of their funding came from Zero Waste Scotland and was limited.  Recycling and re-use was the right way to progress but this was not a statutory requirement.  However, SBC would continue to facilitate recycling and re-use by working closely with organisations, to continue to develop and progress the service across the Borders.

Councillor Paterson, Executive Member for Environmental Services, was in attendance and stated that community recycling centres did a fantastic job. Feedback from the public was extremely positive.  He referred to Hawick Men’s Shed Organisation who were repairing and recycling old furniture.  He emphasised the importance of recycling and re-use continuing, supported by SBC.

The Chairman thanked officers for the interesting presentation.  After further discussion it was agreed that SBC’s Waste Management Member Officer Working Group be asked to consider ways in which Council could facilitate and encourage arm’s length organisations to continue and expand this valuable upcycling/recycling facility. 

DECISION

(a)        NOTED:-

(i)         The progress made in providing re-use facilities at Community Recycling Centres;

(ii)        The challenges in providing re-use facilities at the Council’s Community Recycling Centres; and

(iii)       Supports the continued development of re-use facilities at Community Recycling Centres, where affordable and practicable.

#            AGREED to RECOMMEND that the Waste Management Member Officer Working Group be asked to investigate initiatives to facilitate Arm’s Length Organisations continuing and expanding the valuable re-use and remarketing facility at the Council’s Community Recycling Centres, as part of their consideration of the new Waste Management Plan.