Content

11.1

Members of the committee
considered a report of the Executive Director Neighbourhood
Services seeking approval to implement a new waste and recycling
collection service that ensures compliance with the requirements of
the Environment Act. The proposed changes will also see additional
capacity provided for the collection of paper and card for
recycling, to address the lack of collection capacity currently
reported by residents and evidenced by low collection yields.

 

 

11.2

RESOLVED
UNANIMOUSLY: That the Environmental
Services and Regulation Policy Committee:
 

a)   
Approves the proposed changes to Sheffield’s
waste management policies. The changes will: - Ensure compliance
with the requirement of the Environment Act 2021 to collect for
recycling all materials stated in The Separation of Waste
Regulations, 2024. - Address the lack of paper and card collection
capacity reported by customers and evidenced by low paper and card
collection yields, and high customer dissatisfaction - Provide
flexibility for households to increase their recycling collection
capacity. This will help manage the potential changes in the nature
and volume of recyclable materials resulting from the introduction
of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging and the Deposit
Return Scheme.

b)   
Delegates responsibility to the Director for
Streetscene and Regulation to negotiate
the necessary changes within the Integrated Waste Management
Contract with Veolia.

c)   
Utilises the burden funding provided under the
Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging Regulations to
deliver the proposed changes, and deliver improvements to
Sheffield’s packaging collection and recycling
services.

 

 

11.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

11.3.1

Ensure compliance with the requirement of the
Environment Act 2021, to collect for recycling all materials stated
in The Separation of Waste Regulations, 2024.

 

 

11.3.2

Address the lack of paper and card collection
capacity reported by customers and evidenced by low paper and card
collection yields, and high customer dissatisfaction.

 

 

11.3.3

Provide sufficient capacity and flexibility to
manage the potential changes in the nature and volume of recyclable
materials resulting from the introduction of Extended Producer
Responsibility for Packaging and the Deposit Return Scheme.

 

 

11.3.4

Deliver an estimated annual CO2 equivalent
saving of 1,451 tonnes when compared to the current service, and increase Sheffield’s recycling
rate by an estimated 2.8%.

 

 

11.3.5

The proposed changes will be funded by the
ongoing Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging payments
from 2025/26.

 

 

11.3.6

The addition of the required materials for
recycling along with the increase in collection capacity provided
for paper and card, will reduce the risk that Sheffield’s
recycling services be deemed ineffective, which could see a 20%
reduction in future Extended Producer Responsibility of Packaging
payments.

 

 

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

11.4.1

Three alternative options were considered.
Each option was subjected to independent service impact modelling
to project the performance impact of each option and was costed by
Veolia.

 

 

11.4.2

Option 1: No change to the existing 140 litre
blue bin collection service for paper and card. This option has
been rejected because:

 

 

11.4.2.1

It does not address the lack of paper and card
collection capacity in the current service,
and will risk the service being deemed ineffective risking a
potential 20% reduction in future Extended Producer Responsibility
payments.

 

 

11.4.2.2

The lower projected recycling tonnage
collected means the carbon saving associated with option 1 is less
than the recommended option 2.

 

 

11.4.3

This report proposes that Option 2 be
implemented for the reasons set out in section 10.

 

 

11.4.4

Option 3: Existing 240 litre brown bin to be
used for paper and card and
collected every four weeks. Existing 140 litre
blue bin to be used for glass,
cans, plastics and cartons and collected every
fortnight. This option has been
rejected because:

 

 

11.4.4.1

Due to increased vehicle requirements, the
associated carbon saving is less than the recommended option 2

 

 

11.4.4.2

The higher ongoing costs mean that from year 3
it will be £2.4m more expensive to operate each year than the
recommended option 2.

 

 

11.4.4.3

The change in the materials to be placed
inside the blue and brown bins, alongside the difference in
collection frequency risks causing confusion amongst residents, a
negative impact on recycling performance.

 

 

11.4.5

Option 4: Change from a 140 to a 240 litre blue bin for paper and card and a change
to a three weekly collection capacity for the blue and brown bin.
This options has been rejected
because:

 

 

11.4.5.1

Due to increased vehicle requirements, the
associated carbon saving is less than the recommended option 2.

 

 

11.4.5.2

The higher ongoing costs mean that it will be
£3.2m more expensive to operate each year than the
recommended option 2.