SCARBOROUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL

Waste Plan

April 2016

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Author Paul ThompsonOwner Environmental ServicesProtective Marking NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKEDCabinet Approval DateCouncil Approval DatePolicy Date/PeriodPolicy Review Frequency Annually

REVIEW HISTORY

Date Reviewed By Version Any Revisions?

REVISION HISTORY (only required where changes made)

Date Revised By Version Description of Revision

April 2016 PT 0.1 Creation of Policy

DOCUMENT REVISION APPROVALS

Version Approval DateCabinetCouncil

SCARBOROUGH BOROUGH COUNCIL

Environmental Services

Waste Plan 2016 To 2026

Background

Scarborough Borough covers some 315 square miles and has a population of

110,000 residents and over 58,000 households. There are approximately 45 miles

of Heritage coastline in which are located the three main towns of Scarborough,

Whitby and Filey. Furthermore there are numerous rural and coastal villages, many

within the North Yorks Moors National Park. The size and rural nature of the

Borough means the collection of waste must be efficient and effective to ensure

quality and value for money. In addition, the area's well developed tourism industry

means that the service must cope with the equivalent of a population of 350,000

people during the holiday season.

Scarborough Borough Council is a Waste Collection Authority and as such has a

duty under Section 49 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to prepare a Waste

Management Strategy. The Council is a member of the York and North Yorkshire’s

Waste Partnership and is committed to the targets set out in York and North

Yorkshire’s Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy which deals with waste

across North Yorkshire and the City of York.

This document addresses the management of household and commercial waste in

the Borough Councils area and complements the strategic aims we subscribe to

across the County. It updates and replaces the 2008 Scarborough Borough Council

Policy For Refuse And Recycling Collection Services ensuring it encompasses

recent legislative changes and operational developments.

What will success look like over the next ten years?

1. Contamination of our blue bin recycling not to exceed contractual tolerances2. Garden waste subscribers to exceed 8000 per annum3. Satisfaction with the service residents receive to remain at current levels

How will this be monitored?

The Councils Corporate Performance Monitoring framework will be the main check on performance with the above key markers being monitored each quarter.

Position Statement

The service collects household waste from 58,000 dwellings [as of 2015] and

services approximately 2000 commercial waste customers, making it the largest

such provider in the area. The service also investigates and enforces all relevant

legislation in respect of waste and waste management practices; where an offence

falls outside the remit of Scarborough Borough Council, the service will work with

other agencies. The service has adopted the Local Government Association protocol

on fly-tipping and works closely with the Environment Agency in relation to such

offences.

An ongoing priority for the service has been to divert more material from landfill and

encourage reuse and/or recycling, in line with wider government directives including

the 2010 Waste Strategy for England. In 2005 approximately 82% of household

waste collected in the Borough was sent to landfill, in 2015 this has reduced to less

than 60%. The landfilling of such potentially valuable material is damaging to the

environment and is unsustainable financially. The Borough Council has and will

continue to work with North Yorkshire County Council, local charities, and a number

of key partners to divert more material from landfill.

Recent Developments

2007 Kerbside recycling introduced for all residents. This is based on a co-mingled

collection utilising blue bins and blue sacks for paper, card, plastic bottles, cans and

aerosols. The collection regime became a Borough-wide alternate weekly scheme,

which saw residual waste collected one week with recyclables collected the

following. Garden waste was collected on the same day as residents blue bins to

prevent confusion. To increase participation in garden waste recycling the service

began to sell brown 240ltr bins to residents for a one off cost of £20 including

delivery.

2008 The council continued to expand textile recycling banks in partnership with the

Yorkshire Air Ambulance and The Salvation Army. The expansion took the number

of sites to 50 throughout the Borough.

2009 As part of the drive to increase recycling the Council adopted a strategy to

increase the number of glass banks from 60 to 120 with a five year target to achieve

this. Within nine months the service had completed the 121st site. The expansion of

glass sites was based on the collection of mixed glass rather than collecting colour

separated glass. This meant recycling glass was simplified for residents and the

decline in glass recycling, which was the position before the expansion, was

reversed.

2010 The range of materials collected for recycling was expanded to include mixed

plastic packaging and cartons through negotiation with Yorwaste, the Council’s

recycling partner.

2011 The Council started the process of seeking a new recycling partner to

commence once the current contract expired in 2013.

2013 The recycling was expanded to include glass bottles and jars. This is the first

time we’ve been able to collect glass from the kerbside. We also started composting

in Whitby to reduce emissions and our operating costs.

2014 The Council enters into a ten year contract with UPM Kymmene-UK Ltd and

Yorwaste, to process all the Boroughs co-mingled recyclate and some of our garden

waste.

2015 Saw the introduction of an annual licence for the collection of garden waste,

this is a non-statutory but highly valued element of the service. During Year 1 we

have a target of 8000 licences to be sold, this will be monitored by Officers and

reported through the Council's Corporate Performance Monitoring system to Cabinet.

The garden waste scheme will also be subject to an annual review by Members to

ensure it meets desired outcomes for the service.

The recycling market is still very much depressed since the 2008 collapse in

commodity prices, this presents two key issues. Firstly the gate fee payable by the

Council for the processing of our recycling is high presenting a challenge for the

Councils budget. This is reviewed annually and subject to approval by the relevant

Director. Secondly the market has become more focused on quality and clean

recyclate, although we have historically collected good quality recycling it is now

critical that contamination is within contractual tolerances. This is monitored monthly

by Officers and reported through to Cabinet in the Service performance figures.

Current Collection Arrangements

Containers for waste – bins and sacks

All domestic properties are on the same collection frequency – recycling one week

and non recycling the following. Individual homes usually have their own individual

bins – 240 litre blue bin and 240 litre green bin and the option to buy a 240 litre

brown bin or SBC garden waste sacks. If residents are on a sack collection then

these are 60 litre sacks and four are provided for each collection, alternatively they

may be on a communal bin service with the same capacity. Residents receive blue

and green bins free of charge currently after the payment of an administrative

delivery fee.

Bins/sacks must be out for collection by 6:00 am on the scheduled day of collection.

The occupier should place the bin/sacks for collection at the edge of their property

nearest the highway, in such a position that it does not cause an obstruction on the

highway. Wheeled bins should be placed with handles facing towards the roadside

with the lid closed.

Wheeled bins will be returned to the collection point by operatives after they have

been emptied. The occupier or householder must then return the wheeled bin to its

normal storage point within the confines of their own property once the collection has

been made. Failure to correctly store any wheeled bins provided might lead to action

by the Council who may subsequently remove the bins in question.

Residents living in remote properties, e.g. at the end of a farm track, will be required

to bring their containers out to the edge of their property near to the main highway on

collection day. Where there are four or more properties up the track or lane a

designated collection point may be established, subject to a site assessment by

Officers that the access road is suitable for refuse/recycling vehicles.

Assisted CollectionsIf, due to infirmity and/or disability, there is no member of the household who can

manage to present the wheeled bin/sacks for collection, the householder should

contact Customer First to request an assisted collection. With an assisted collection,

a crew member will enter the property to collect the container at an agreed point and

return the container to the collection point once emptied. All requests for assisted

collections will be subject to consideration by Officers prior to adoption of such

collections.

Properties with combined residential and commercial waste (e.g. Hotel/Guest House

accommodation) may, where appropriate, be supplied with containers as detailed

above. Containers supplied for household waste may not, under any circumstances,

be used for trade waste. All businesses have a duty of care under the Environmental

Protection Act 1990 in respect of all waste they generate and all such waste must be

securely stored and disposed of in accordance with this Act.

All wheeled bins and sacks must be stored within the curtilage of the property at all

times other than when presented for collection on the normal scheduled day.

Containers must not be stored on the public highway.

Materials to be CollectedThe blue wheeled bin and blue sacks are for the collection of paper including

newspapers, magazines, telephone directories, yellow pages, catalogues, junk mail,

juice cartons, thin card, cardboard (which may be left next to the bin/bag on

collection day if too large for the bin/bag), plastic bottles, household plastic

packaging – yoghurt pots, margarine tubs, ice cream tubs, glass bottles aerosol cans

and rinsed food/drinks cans only (and in accordance with the following paragraph). If

other waste, e.g. food/plastic bags/black sacks, is placed in the blue bin/blue sacks it

will not be collected as the contents would be considered to be contaminated.

Excess Residual Waste/Closed Lid PolicyOnly waste contained within Scarborough Borough Council issued containers will be

collected. The lid of the bin must be fully closed. If the lid is not fully closed, the

crews will remove the top bag or any other additional waste, empty the bin, and

return the excess to the wheeled bin. Any additional waste left alongside the bin will

also be placed back into the emptied wheeled bin. No excess waste will be taken

until the next scheduled collection day.

Overweight wheeled bins or bins containing unstable loads will not be emptied by the

collection crew if, in the opinion of the operative, emptying of the bin will represent a

hazard to any member of the crew. Householders will be required to lighten the load

of the bin by removing some or all of the contents.

The householder should then contact Customer First so that arrangements can be

made to empty the container as soon as practicable. Notification will be left on the

bin by the collection crew informing the householder of these arrangements.

Requirements for additional capacityProperties with 7 or more permanent residents may be eligible for additional residual

wheeled bin or sack capacity. Those households seeking additional capacity should

contact Customer First where an Officer will assess the request and additional

capacity may be provided.

Households where residents have a medical condition which necessitates the

production of excess waste may similarly qualify for additional capacity for residual

waste. These households must apply by contacting Customer First where an Officer

will assess the request and decide whether additional capacity is appropriate.

Missed CollectionsShould Scarborough Borough Council receive a report that we have failed to collect

a householder’s bin or sack on the scheduled collection day we will investigate this

and if we are at fault we will return within 24 hours of notification where practicable.

This could be as a result of vehicle breakdown, emergency road repairs, lack of

suitable access due to poorly parked vehicles etc.

Bulky ItemsHouseholders wishing to dispose of unwanted bulky items should contact Customer

First to arrange the collection of such items. A charge will be made for this service.

Clinical WasteScarborough Borough Council will make arrangements for the collection of clinical

waste if requested by householders. All enquiries regarding clinical waste will be

treated in the strictest confidence. Requests for clinical waste collection should be

made by contacting Customer First.

Hazardous WasteHouseholders wishing to dispose of hazardous waste should contact North Yorkshire

County Council on Tel: 01609 532512 so that arrangements can be made for

collection.

Any other wasteAny other waste not included in this policy should be referred to Customer First for

further advice regarding disposal.

Waste Partnership Activities

The Council will continue to work closely with the wider Waste Partnership to deliver their strategic goals of

Reduce the amount of waste produced in York and North Yorkshire. To promote the value of waste as a natural and viable resource, by - Re-

using, recycling and composting the maximum practicable amount of household waste.

Maximising opportunities for re-use of unwanted items and waste by working closely with community and other groups.

Maximising the recovery of materials and/or energy from waste that is not re-used, recycled or composted so as to further reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill.

We continue to contribute financially to joint waste reduction campaigns and promote

reuse of clothing, books and textiles through our partnership with the Salvation Army.

The Borough’s waste will all go to Allerton Waste Recovery Park, reducing

significantly waste sent to landfill.

Looking Ahead

Service changes

In line with planned budget reductions it is inevitable that the service will have to

continue to innovate and become more efficient. This is likely to be done through

greater use of technology such as personalised calendars online rather than printed

and posted calendars.

Blue Bin Recycling [Dry Recyclate]

The material streams collected from households is unlikely to expand given the

present market conditions, however we will continue to monitor the issue and will

look to incorporate other items when sustainable.

We will continue to take a firm and reasoned stance on contamination, to protect the

interests of residents.

Garden Waste

We will refine our garden waste collection service to make it as efficient as possible

to keep price rises to a minimum. We will continue our long-term goal to reduce the

usage of garden waste sacks which present manual handling and operational

problems. This will likely be done through variable pricing for this collection

preference.

Waste Electrical Items

The ongoing commodity price challenge has hit the viability of operating a free

kerbside electrical recycling service. Through the implementation of a charge it has

been able to continue, these charges will continue to be monitored to ensure value

for money.

Reducing waste

We will continue to co-operate and fund the York and North Yorkshire Waste

Partnership in waste minimisation efforts. Our financial contributions will reduce as

the work of the partnership is refined in line with the Allerton Park Project and the

County Wide waste strategy.

We will work with residents to encourage better segregation and participation in our

recycling service to help us reach this goal. In early 2012 the last landfill site within

the Borough began its phased closure plan with all residual waste being transported

to landfill sites outside of the Borough. However this will change when North

Yorkshire County Councils Allerton Park project becomes operational.

Commercial Waste

We are the dominant provider of commercial waste collections within the Borough

and will work hard to maintain this lead. We will continue to provide value for money

and high levels of customer service, this will be monitored through annual

satisfaction surveys and analysis of our customer base. We will continue to work with

other strategic partners and may develop new relationships to keep the business

healthy and increase value for our customers.

Enforcement

Waste crime and inappropriate disposal can take many forms and have a serious effect on peoples quality of life whilst potentially harming the environment. This new plan amends the Waste and Recycling Enforcement Policy to take account of legislative changes. The aims remain the same to “…protect and promote the health and safety of people who live in, work in or visit the Borough of Scarborough and to safeguard and enhance the quality of the environment within the Borough.”

In achieving this, Scarborough Borough Council will enforce and, where necessary in the public interest, prosecute individuals whose behaviour is in contravention of current legislation. Appropriate measures will be taken to uphold Council Policy.

Environmental crime is a serious problem that if left unopposed, can blight local communities and seriously damage our environment. It can decrease our residents’ quality of life and has the potential to damage our natural surroundings. Environmental crime can range from persistent and intentional contamination of recycling receptacles through littering of our streets and countryside to wide-spread fly tipping.

Intentional contamination of collected recyclable materials can result in entire loads being rejected and eventually landfilled. Although an offence may seem minor in isolation, cumulatively it can have both an environmental cost and substantial capital and revenue implications for our residents through Council Tax.

Scarborough Borough Council is committed to the success of our Borough wide kerbside recycling service; we will support residents where needed but will not tolerate deliberate attempts to damage the service. Our contract with UPM has clear

contractual limits for contamination which we must not exceed. For this reason, support and enforcement will work in partnership to ensure the service is a success.Legislation gives Local Authorities increased powers to deal with those responsible for environmental crimes and the implementation of these powers, coupled with appropriate Officer discretion, should ensure that we are in a position to “safeguard and enhance the quality of the environment within the Borough”.

To ensure enforcement is both clear and fair across the Borough the following procedures will be adopted:

Contamination of kerbside recycling receptacleWhere contamination of recycled materials occurs the following steps will betaken:A contamination notice will be affixed to the wheeled bin or sack and the contents left. The notice advises residents of the reason why their material has been left and how to resolve this. If the problem occurs again within a 12 month period, the resident will be contacted in writing advising them of the implications for continued contamination. In the event of a recurrence a member of the Recycling Support and Enforcement team will make a home visit to advise residents on the correct usage of our kerbside recycling service and the implications for continued contamination. If the bin remains contaminated or is contaminated again then we will remove the bin. A delivery fee would be liable for a replacement bin.

Bins stored on the public highwayThis section applies to both residual waste and recyclables. If a bin is left out on the public highway then it can become unsightly and cause upset to nearby residents. In view of this a notification will be affixed to wheeled bin to advise the resident of their noncompliance with this policy.

If the bins remain in situ then the householder may have the bin removed, a delivery fee would be liable for a replacement bin.

Illegal deposit of wasteThis procedure applies to any waste deposited on land in the open air which has not been set out for collection in accordance with this policy.

The incident will be investigated and where a source of material can be found, those responsible will be contacted seeking an explanation for the incident, this may take place under caution to provide an accurate record should the matter be taken further. At the discretion of the Principal Officer managing waste enforcement, it may be decided to take no further action at this point or to issue a fixed penalty notice. Following this decision or if the offence is so serious or there were aggravated factors, then formal prosecution may take place at the discretion of the relevant Council Director.

Abandoned VehiclesThe abandonment of a vehicle is an offence which seemingly follows scrap metal prices, when old cars have a value then less abandonment takes place. When it costs money to dispose of them reports of rusting vehicles left at the side of the road increase. Regardless we take action to remove abandoned vehicle due to the hazard they pose, we issue notices on the vehicle and to the last known owner requiring removal. If it still remains in situ or poses an immediate danger to the public then we can remove and destroy. We will try to recover our costs through the serving of a fixed penalty notice.

Fly-postingFly-posting is unsightly and can quickly cause damage to street furniture and the amenity value of our public spaces. We will investigate and where possible contact the erector, or the beneficiary and request removal. Any non-compliance will see us remove the advertising and then we may issue a fixed penalty notice for each breach.

Depositing LitterWe take enforcement action against individuals who drop litter or small amounts of waste, if enforcement action is appropriate this will likely involve the issuing of a fixed penalty notice.

Failure to comply with NoticesDuring investigation into waste related issues, it may be appropriate to service formal notices, non-compliance with these could result in the issuing of fixed penalty notices. For instance as a Waste Collection Authority we can require businesses to supply us with details on their commercial waste disposal arrangements or require them to keep their waste in their bin only. If they do not provide the information or let their rubbish escape their control in the street, it may be appropriate at the discretion Principal Officer managing waste enforcement to issue a fixed penalty notice or formal proceedings.

Fixed Penalty Notices have been used for a number of years as a useful enforcement tool, allowing people the opportunity to discharge their liability for the offence. New powers such as The Unauthorised Deposit of Waste (Fixed Penalties) Regulations 2016 will be implemented at the discretion of the relevant Director alongside the penalty amounts levied. The use of Fixed Penalties is expected to continue, the current penalty amounts are attached as Appendix 1, the amounts and offences are reviewed annually by a Council Director.

Appendix 1

Description of offenceAmount of penalty

if paid within 10 days

Full amount of penalty

ActMaximum penalty on conviction

LITTERING £60 £80Environmental

Protection Act 1990 Section 87

£2,500

FLY-POSTING £60 £80 Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 Section 43

£2500

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH A SECTION 46

NOTICE£60 £100

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Section 46£1,000

ABANDONING A VEHICLE £150 £200Refuse Disposal

Amenity Act 1978 Section 2

£2500

FAILURE TO PRODUCE WASTE DOCUMENTS £200 £300

Environmental Protection Act 1990

Section 34

£5,000

on indictment unlimited fine

DEPOSITING WASTE £225 £400The Unauthorised Deposit of Waste (Fixed Penalties) Regulations 2016

£50,000