Agenda item

Cathy Cook, Support Manager Resource London, was present and made a presentation to the Committee.

During consideration of the presentation the following points were made-

·         The Local Authority Support Manager from Resource London (RL) advised Committee that RL is a jointly funded partnership programme created by the London Waste and Recycling Board(LWARB) and WRAP which ends in March 2020 and it supports London waste authorities, helping them to achieve recycling targets set by the Mayor of London and the national government.  Cathy Cook informed the committee that Resource London helps to deliver these targets by undertaking service reviews for local authorities, introducing behavioural changes among residents and promoting innovation and development.

·         Cathy Cook highlighted the 4 objectives of Resource London as restricting residual waste, improving the yield and quality of dry recycling, increasing and improving the capture of unavoidable food waste and minimising the amount of waste produced.

·         With regards to innovation, the Support Manager explained that as the aim of local authorities is to increase their rate of recycling RL would work in conjunction with councils’ to focus on certain aspects such as changing their residual collection regime from weekly to fortnightly; focus on flats by using single transparent bags; reduce the size of the residual bins and containerisation.

·         The Support Manager informed Members of recent changes introduced by Camden’s Waste Service in April 2017 with the result that the recycling rate had increased by 11% compared to the previous year.

·         Members were advised that Islington and other London boroughs experience similar challenges with regards to increasing their rate of recycling. Islington has a number of unique characteristics such as having  80% of its housing stock being flats, its diverse and cultural mix population, cuts to central government budgets, all resulting in different approaches to how the Council has to address the challenges of increasing rate of recycling.

·         Members were advised that with regards to the private rented sector, a guidance booklet had been developed, which will help increase the awareness of recycling however there are concerns that landlords still would not provide facilities for recycling in their premises.

·         In response to a question, the Support Manager acknowledged that RL operates on a strategic planning level with waste authorities and has no working relationship with voluntary organisations such as Tenant and Resident Associations.

·         Members agreed that the involvement of TRA should be encouraged as TRA’s providing solutions on issues such as the siting and design of recycling sites would be regarded as ideas of resident and gives a feeling of ownership.

·         On the issue of increasing community engagement suggestions such as having a league table of recycling rates of housing estates or on a ward by ward basis on the Council website and introducing some financial or community incentives was noted.

·         On the issue of overflowing bins especially on estates, the Executive Member for Economic Development acknowledged that some of the council buildings were structurally old and have no recycling facilities, however housing services were in the process of undertaking a structural survey of its bins.

·         In response to a question on whether Council would be considering best practices from neighbouring authorities, the Chair informed Committee that Officers from Camden and Hackney have been invited to the Committee, giving opportunity for Members to consider their experiences. Members were reminded that authorities vary in terms of types of properties and the population demographics.

·         The Support Manager advised that with regards to the future, Islington or any authority intending to meet the Mayor’s target would need to employ some radical changes to their services, such as restricting residual waste or by introducing fortnightly collections.