Cllr. Nick Peel - "It's a Load of Rubbish - Recycling in Bolton"
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This is the text of a talk given by Labour Environment Spokesperson on Environment, Cllr. Nick Peel at the Party's Branch meeting on 27th September 2005.
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Nick began by saying that he believed he holds the record for a green recycling box not being emptied - six weeks (unless you know better!) He said that this simply illustrates some of the problems being experienced in the borough. Environmental Services is the department responsible.
Nick and the Labour Group want to exploit the way that the Lib-Dems have apparently mishandled this issue and look at alternatives. The old grey or black bin is referred to as the "residual bin" and the new system has been rolled out in a large part of Bolton West with a lot of problems being experienced. Nick detailed aspects of the current system (see Recycling Briefing Note) and the schedule for introducing it in other parts of the borough.
The Labour Group, supported by the Tories, has called for a review of the way the system has operated in Bolton West before it's extended.
The Lib-Dems say that the service problems have been resolved but there were never problems previously but a lot of the problems are due to the Environmental Services Dept. taking on so many temps due to a high sickness rate.
In Bury the Council was spending a lot of money "mopping up" and their green boxes have been replaced with blue bins. This seems to have resolved the problems.
The remainder of Nick's talk is covered by the Briefing Note (see below) and it was followed by a question and answer session:
| Nick: | It's likely that green box would go and be replaced with an alternative if Labour wins the 2006 local election. |
| Mike: | Households can have a 2nd green box if they request another. |
| Ian: | Nick and Mike are advising that the Party should exploit recycling problems re opposing Lib Dems. He felt this was symptomatic of the Labour Group; we should be encouraging recycling and putting forward alternatives, not just attacking the Lib Dems. |
| Nick: | Problems of capacity were raised previously but had been ignored. Most people aren't using green boxes. The council should be encouraging recycling but seems to be "doing it on the cheap". |
| Anne: | Said she had to phone the council a number of times to find out which types of plastic can and cannot be recycled. She said this is different from France where information is given out/publicised. |
| Mike: | An object can be recycled if it has a recycling mark. If has had oil or fat in it, then cannot. |
| Joyce: | Agrees with recycling, but only collecting black bin every two weeks is a very backward step. What about households with pets? |
| Nick: | Labour did not agree with the way recycling has been introduced and should have been done more slowly, changing people's behaviour and less of a "stick" rather than "carrot" approach. |
| Simon: | What do other authorities do? |
| Nick: | A whole range of schemes are in operation. Emphasised that Bury are hitting very similar recycling levels as Bolton but with weekly collections. |
| Victoria: | Why didn't Bolton learn from Bury? |
| Mike: | People have to become used to sorting rubbish appropriately for recycling to work, as in Bury. |
| Anne: | Has heard that we are way behind other European countries with figures of 60 - 80% quoted. However in France this summer, her experience of recycling there was nowhere near as good as in Bolton. |
| Mike: | In Germany there is a responsibility on companies to sort their waste. This might be why they achieve higher percentages than UK. |
| Nick: | Pressure is being put on companies, especially supermarkets, to cut down on packaging. The government has (rightly) set targets for household recycling and will fine local authorities that do not reach the targets. |
| Simon: | Is pressure being put on companies to make items recyclable? |
| Alan: | Asked about bin men and their organising, etc. |
| Nick: | Bin men have to organise their own rounds. Said he did not know if they got bonuses. Extra staff has had to be taken on. |
| Barbara: | Why has the day for rubbish collection been changed? Said we should be worried about health issues with green waste only collected once a fortnight. In Stockport they have four big bins why not here? |
| Nick: | Cardboard is not recycled in Bolton at present that could be a 4th bin. He has also heard of textile bins. |
| George: | Said court proceedings could be taken against the council on health grounds. The government should issue national guidelines. |
| Diane: | Has fly tipping increased because of the £10 charge for collecting bulky items? |
| Nick: | We introduced that charge two and a half years ago. The Lib Dems said they would get rid of the charge if they were elected but they have not. The official figures are that fly tipping is reducing again. |
| Simon: | It was stated that wheelie bins would be big enough when they were first introduced. Packaging is the problem. |
| Graham: | Are the different bins issued right across the borough? |
| Nick: | Aim was for everyone to be issued with a green box and paper bag, and green bin if requested. Bolton West has two week collection, but rest of Bolton is only getting used to green box, etc |
| Discussion continued about policies to improve rubbish collection and also how to help Labour in next local election. | |
| Alan: | A recent Area Forum discussed rubbish collection and it was seen as a retrograde step to move to a two week collection and some of the Councillors agreed. |
| Mohammed: | What are the main points of the local LP policy on recycling? |
| Nick: | Our line is that we are currently looking at solutions. Are looking at replacing the green box with a bin and returning to a weekly collection. |
| Alan said that the Conservatives have already started campaigning and that he and Joyce have received leaflets from them. | |
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| Year | Recycle Rate | Govt. Target |
| 2003/4 | 8% | NA |
| 2004/5 | 13% | NA |
| 2005/6 | 22% (est) | 20% |
| 2006/7 | 30% (est) | 25% |
Estimate recycle rate for this year is 22%, overshooting government target by 2%.
Estimate recycle rate in Phase 1 area (Bolton West) is 37%
Due to roll out to Phase 2 (North Bolton) in next few weeks
Issue One - The Roll Out
- Recycle rate is 37% in phase 1, what is it in rest of Bolton?
- Part of phase 1 has been recycling for years. What are the different rates within phase 1?
The bulk of the phase one area has been recycling for years. 37% rate is therefore expected if not even disappointing.
Due to be rolled out to North Bolton. Very little experience of recycling. Only been on the voluntary scheme for a few months.
Labour says - hold back. Review the system in West first before expanding. Sort out the problems in West first before spreading them
Issue Two - Capacity
The black bin two week collection would make sense and might even work if the green box was big enough.
Labour says - green box too small for fortnight's worth of recyclables.
- Black bin cannot hold fortnight's worth of residual waste (+ overflow from green box)
- Non garden properties have no green bin, so uncooked food/veg etc has to go in black bin for 2 weeks. Hygiene/smell issues.
- Urgent arrangements needed for collection of cardboard
Issue Three - Service Problems
Never been major problems with bin collections before
Problems now in ALL areas of Bolton of missed bins and repeat missed bins. Delivery and collection of recycle bins in non roll out areas.
Fly tips have increased between January and April, but apparently fallen since. This is not the perception
Bulky waste pick ups have increased
Bury MBC
Started with identical system to Bolton's.
Now replaced green boxes with blue bins (standard wheelie bin for recyclables).
Abandoned two weekly collections, due to increasing costs of 'mop ups'.
Are on set to achieve the Government target of 20% for 2005/6.
Labour Group's Response
Our current public line is:
We would not have brought this scheme in. If elected WE WILL CHANGE IT
Policy is to criticise and call for further roll outs to be cancelled/postponed. No policy of offering an alternative system at this stage - but we will change it. Early in the New Year - launch alternative policy. Imagine the slogan?
Vote Labour and Get Your Bin Emptied Once a Week!
The Chair thanked Nick for attending the meeting, the members for their interest and contributions and Alan and Joyce for hosting the meeting and for their hospitality. He declared the meeting closed at 9:30 pm.
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