Presentation
Minutes:
The Joint Executive Committee received a presentation on the blue bin recycling process, from collection to processing.
Gateshead and South Tyneside Councils have a joint contract with Palm and Sunderland has a separate contract with J&B, with both contracts ending at the same time. It was noted that this will allow all partner authorities to come together in the future.
The mixed recycling from the blue bin is often referred to as comingled material. The recycling vehicles tip all recycling at Riverdale, Team Valley Trading Estate, for Gateshead and South Tyneside and at Monument Park in Washington for Sunderland’s recycling. Mixed materials go to the Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF) for processing, this is Palm in Teesside for Gateshead and South Tyneside and J&B in Hartlepool for Sunderland. In terms of newspapers and magazines these go direct to the paper mills at Palm Recycling, at Kings Lynn Norfolk and UPM at Deeside for Sunderland.
The Committee viewed a video taken at the MRF at Teesside which showed how the mixed recycling is processed. It was highlighted that there continues to be manual handpicking from the belt, although there is hi tech machinery to separate the materials which in turn produces high quality end product, turning waste into a resource.
It was reported that for Gateshead and South Tyneside the paper from the caddy goes direct to Palms paper mill in Norfolk, which is the widest, largest and most powerful newsprint machine in the world. It was noted that it can run at speeds of 2000 metres of paper per minute, producing 400,000 tonnes of newsprint per year. Each paper roll is 11 metres wide and can be cut to the customer size and specification.
The Committee was provided with information around what material can be accepted in the blue bin and inner caddy in order to avoid contamination issues. It was noted that this information is continuing to be publicised in the partnership area.
The costs associated with processing the recycling were outlined, it was noted that the partnership has to pay the contractor to process every tonne of mixed recycling at a set rate, however the Councils receive a substantial income payment from the contractor for every tonne of paper collected separately in the caddy. Therefore, if the amount of paper collected separately can be maximised this will help reduce the cost of recycling. It was reported that the percentage of paper collected since 2014 is reducing, this is similar to the national picture and is a result of the use of modern technology which has reduced paper readership. It was noted that the partnership continues to promote paper recycling through various communications channels and each Council provides free replacement caddies.
In terms of contamination rates for Gateshead and South Tyneside these have dropped quite significantly since 2015. Sunderland’s contamination rates have increased recently due to the introduction of fortnightly collections of residual waste in April 2017. The Committee was reassured that all parties are now working hard to try and ensure the contamination rate reduces in the longer term. Committee was advised that the impact of contamination is an increased cost for the contractor to process the residual waste and also the lost revenue from the recycling. If a load contains a large amount of contamination it can be rejected at the transfer station and ends up going for disposal, which costs more than recycling. It was also confirmed that the quality of the recyclable material can affect how and where it is sold on as it is not sustainable as higher quality recyclables. In order to address the issue of contamination all three councils have employed door stepping staff to speak directly to residents. Gateshead Council has employed three Behavioural Change Officers with the aim of changing the public’s behaviour towards waste and recycling. In addition, crews check bins for contamination before emptying, if there is any contamination a sticker or tag is left on the bin to inform the resident. Communication work is ongoing through leaflets, bin stickers, press releases and information placed on websites, social media and council magazines, the Partnership also has a You Tube channel. It was also reported that staff at the transfer stations record information on contamination and remove larger items of contamination.
Committee was advised that the next steps are to agree the short term contract options up until 2021, then look at the longer term options post 2021 which will involve looking at several different scenarios including collection arrangements, one joint partnership site to build a WTS or MRF and who will operate the facility. It was also acknowledged that consideration will have to be given to the impact Brexit will have on UK legislation and how that will influence national policy and the recycling industry. It was also noted that the situation will be monitored following the announcement about China’s National Sword initiative which will result in contaminated loads of imported recycling being turned back at the ports.
It was suggested that the video should be shown in schools and should also include the reuse initiatives coordinated by Groundwork from the Visitor and education Centre.. It was confirmed that Suez and Groundwork are using the You Tube videos in schools and the partnership could look at other videos to show future reuse initiatives
The point was made that currently recycling rates for the partnership are hitting a ceiling, therefore it will cost money to reach the 50% target. However if bottom ash is reclassified as recycling this would take the percentage to over 50%. It was agreed that the Chair would write a further letter to central Government around the reclassification of bottom ash as recycled material.
RESOLVED - That the Joint Executive Committee noted the information
presented.