Review of Pilot Recycling Project - Wordsworth Close, Oswaldtwistle.

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1 Report to: Cabinet Date: 17 th January, 2008 Portfolio: Cllr P Clarke Portfolio Holder Environmental Protection Report Authors: Maria Quinn, Environmental Enforcement Officer and Sarah Wilson, Recycling and Waste Minimisation Officer Review of Pilot Recycling Project - Wordsworth Close, Oswaldtwistle. 1.0 Purpose of Report: 1.1 To provide Cabinet with with a 6 month review of the impact of the pilot project which was launched to encourage higher participation in the Council s kerbside recycling scheme. 1.2 To discover and compare the rate of recycling participation and incidents of side waste in the pilot project area to determine if the project was successful in maintaining improvements. 2.0 Recommendations 2.1 Cabinet notes the report and the sustained improvements made by residents in managing their household waste. 2.2 Further work is undertaken with Hyndburn Homes to reduce the amount of rubbish stored within the property boundaries. 2.2 Further projects are undertaken on the Lancaster Drive area of Clayton-Le- Moors and the Edgar St / Walter Street area of Accrington where recycling and general waste management is poor. 3.0 Background 3.1 A manageable total of 64 properties were chosen for the pilot project on Wordsworth Close, Oswaldtwistle and an adjacent area of Thwaites Road. The objectives of the project were to : Monitor and improve participation in the Council s kerbside recycling scheme Monitor and reduce side waste ( ie waste not presented in the wheeled bin ) Where necessary, use section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act to enforce the correct use of receptacles and further encourage residents to recycle. Provide receptacles and information for those residents not recycling. 3.2 A recycling participation survey was undertaken on 17 th September 2007, to determine how many residents actively recycled following the education and enforcement work undertaken between February and April Those

2 households not presenting recycling were provided with a letter informing them of the importance of recycling and additional receptacles. 3.3 The following week, 24 th September 2007, enforcement observations and investigations were conducted on side waste. On 1 st October 2007, a further recycling participation survey was performed to determine the impact of providing additional receptacles and information. This was followed by further enforcement investigation of the overall cleanliness of the area and incidences of dirty yards and garden areas on 12 October Survey Results 3.4 Recycling Date Area % of households recycling one item or more 15th January 2007 Total Pilot Area 46.9% (original survey) 17 th September 2007 Total Pilot Area 60.3% 1 st October 2007 Total Pilot Area 69.8% The work completed within the Wordsworth Close pilot area, has increased and sustained presentation rates for recycling by over 13%. More resident have begun to recycle more items more often. The number of resident recycling cardboard, glass, plastic and cans has increased by over 25%. Providing additional information and receptacles during the survey in September further encouraged participation, with an increase of over 9% of households recycling one item or more at the next collection. From this the biggest increase was in plastic bottles and cans with a rise of 17.5% of households recycling these items. 3.5 Litter Litter has slightly improved but is an on-going problem. This is pre-dominantly on the verges surrounding paths and our street sweeping teams have reviewed the frequency of cleansing in the area. 3.6 Side Waste Only one household presented side waste, but no evidence was recovered. This compares to the majority on the original survey.

3 3.7 Fly-tipping No incidents of fly-tipping of household waste were noted on the paths or open land at the back of Wordsworth Close. There was some evidence of waste within the boundaries of White Ash Brook Nursing Home; however this was on a much smaller scale compared with the original survey. As this is private land the nursing home is responsible for clearing this area and they were informed of their obligations under the Environmental protection Act ( EPA ) (1990). Flytipping noted in the boundary of White Ash brook Nursing Home during the pilot Levels of fly-tipping noted during the original survey before any education work 3.8 Accumulations of Rubbish There were eight properties with unacceptable levels of household waste, including items prejudicial to health in their rear gardens. Joint enforcement action with Hyndburn Homes to remove this waste is on-going.

4 Initially, four Section 80 notices were served on properties under the EPA to clean up their gardens. Between January 2007 and October 2007 a further four properties have been identified with unacceptable levels of household waste in their rear gardens. 3.9 Dog fouling There were no unacceptable levels of dog faeces present Extra bin problems Nine properties had acquired an extra grey refuse bin without this being authorised by the council. A further five properties had acquired another bin since the initial survey representing an increase of over 50%. These properties will be investigated as part of a campaign to retrieve unauthorised bins Overall Outcomes The work conducted in the pilot project increased and sustained recycling levels by over 12% and reduced the incidences of side waste, litter, fly-tippings and levels of dog faeces. However, there has been no impact on the levels of properties with unacceptable levels of household waste within their property boundaries and there has been a marked increase in the number of properties with unauthorised additional refuse bins. From the original enforcement work undertaken fourteen Section 46 notices were served under the EPA. Two properties re-offended and were issued with fixed penalty notices Conclusions This project has demonstrated that other areas of the Borough would benefit from regular initiatives, such as the repeated provision of receptacles and enforcement action to ensure improvements continue and are maintained. When the additional unauthorised refuse bins are being removed further education and enforcement action will be undertaken regarding the presentation of side waste and the misuse of receptacles. Further pilot projects could be conducted to develop the most effective format for tackling areas, such as Wordsworth Close, which have a variety of environmental problems, such as fly-tipping, side waste, dog fouling and accumulations of household waste within their property boundaries.

5 The pilot process was very time consuming for staff involved and any further similar initiatives would have to take into account local priorities and the staff resources available. Overall the exercise was successful and the revisit six months later showed that improvements had been maintained in recycling and household waste management. However, it was disappointing to note that properties with unacceptable accumulations of household waste within their property boundaries had more than doubled. 4.0 Reasons for Recommendations 4.1 To inform Cabinet of the on-going work to improve recycling rates and for residents to embrace responsible household waste management 5.0 Alternative Options Considered and Reasons for Rejection 5.1 This was a pilot project to develop best practice which can be used in future initiatives 6.0 Implications Issue Financial (including mainstreaming) Legal Assessment of Risk Equality Key Decision Comments None undertaken within existing revenue budgets None None anticipated No equality issues anticipated No 7.0 Consultations 7.1 Via Leader s Environmental Initiatives Group

6 8.0 Links to Corporate Priorities Priority Corporate Governance and Community Leadership Community Safety Housing and the Environment Economy and Employment Culture and Leisure Other priorities with partners: Health and Social Care Education and Lifelong Learning Comments Improving recycling and promoting responsible household waste management 9.0 Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985: List of Background Papers None 10.0 Freedom of Information 10.1 No restrictions under FOI 11.0 Exempt Report (if applicable) 11.1 Not applicable