Meeting documents

To consider the report.

The Joint Waste Scrutiny Panel reviewed and commented on the report and agree the following the recommendations to be considered by Somerset Waste Board:

That the Somerset Waste Board:

-Agrees the revised roll-out timetable for the new Recycle More collection service and authorises the Managing Director of the Somerset Waste Partnership to vary the roll-out due to the significant uncertainty created by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The Chair invited Mickey Green to provide a verbal update on the Revised Recycle More Roll-Out Timetable. On 9 April 2020 the Managing Director of the Somerset Waste Partnership took the decision to delay the roll-out of Recycle More due to the serious, unprecedented and uncertain impact that Covid-19 was having on waste services. The Revised timetable has been compressed to 4 Phases (Rather then 5) it will still finish at the same it as before. The report sets out how the phases are going to be implemented through the next few months. The first two phases now cover all of Mendip and South Somerset (respectively) in order to simplify communications and engagement reflecting the challenges in communicating whilst Covid-19 is still a major factor. Phases Three and four hasn’t got the District alignments as Somerset Waste Partnership are still weighing up the balances in operational and drive costs.  Mendip’s communal properties will receive the new service ahead of or part of the June 2021 phase. Roll out for Recycle More to schools will be in Mendip and South Somerset on 28 June 2021, and schools in Sedgemoor and Somerset West & Taunton in either Sept 2021 of February 2022.

Recycle More is first and foremost about behaviour change and the Somerset Waste Board (SWB) have repeatedly emphasised the need for a major communications and engagement programme ahead of the roll-out.  Somerset Waste Partnership will still deliver two critical communications through their door of every household ahead of the service change to Recycle More. Carymoor Environment Trust is developing virtual Recycle More workshop and assembly options to offer as alternatives to physical visits and to reflect social distancing and other measures to ensure the safety. The campaign will have a greater reliance on digital engagement – a service change film will be produced with, regular Facebook live sessions and similar held so that residents can ask questions. Zoom and Similar meetings will be offered to clusters of Parish Councils and similar stakeholders where face to face events were not possible.

The Panel discussed the receiving dates of the leaflet and clarified the 26^th was the changeover day, and the size of wheelie bins, there would be lots of raising awareness of the change ahead of this. A fortnight before the delivery of the new blue bag will come into place for the new collection process and engaging with residents about the operation. The briefing pack will include on where the recycling will need to go into what box or bag. Mendip were the first rollout of large wheelie bins and had 240L bins delivered and other areas had 180L bins.

The Joint Waste Scrutiny Panel reviewed and commented on the report and agreed the following the recommendations to be considered by Somerset Waste Board:

That the Somerset Waste Board:

-Agrees the revised roll-out timetable for the new Recycle More collection service and authorises the Managing Director of the Somerset Waste Partnership to vary the roll-out due to the significant uncertainty created by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.