Agenda item

(Contracts & Commissioning – Cllr.N Avey) -To agree to introduce charging residents for additional and replacement waste containers – (C-030-2022-23).

(1)        The Cabinet agreed to introduce charging residents for additional and replacement waste containers.

(2)        The Cabinet agreed that developers cover all the costs of providing all new bins and containers (Waste and Recycling) required by a new residential development.

(3)        The Cabinet agreed the following:

a)    That additional food and garden bins (AF&GB) were renamed ‘garden waste bin’.

b)    That residents were charged for the assessment, issuing and delivery of additional garden waste bins.

c)     That residents that requested a larger refuse bin above the standard service offered to residents of a 180-litre bin to be charged for the assessment, issuing and delivery of the larger waste bin.

d)    That if a bin was completely lost or a resident could not produce their bin, the replacement cost should be down to the resident; officers would be given discretion to consider any exceptions to this. However, where a bin could be repaired the repair would continue to be free of charge to residents.

The Contracts and Commissioning Portfolio Holder introduced the report. He noted that the current open-ended policy concerning waste containers had always created a constant demand for additional waste containers especially when there was no cost that affects the resident. The waste management team believe that current revenue costs could be reduced if the report’s recommendations were introduced. 

Councillor Philip welcomed the report but had a concern that we treated lost bins carefully if that loss happened at a time when collections were taking place as they can go missing as some bins sometimes do not go back outside the right property. Officers would need some discretion in sorting this out.

Councillor Lion agreed and pointed out that the contractors can also damage the bins when they collect the rubbish. He would not expect to be charged if the bin was damaged by the contractor. How would we manage this? the Portfolio Holder said that he would take this into consideration and officers would be give discretion on how they dealt with matters like this.

Councillor Murray asked about the rare occasion of when a person moves property and take the bins with them. Will the new owners get new bins? He was told that officers would use their discretion on matters like this.

Councillor Jon Whitehouse would like this commitment reflected in the recommendations. It was agreed by cabinet that this would be reflected in the recommendations.

Decision:

(1)        The Cabinet agreed to introduce charging residents for additional and replacement waste containers.

(2)        The Cabinet agreed that developers cover all the costs of providing all new bins and containers (Waste and Recycling) required by a new residential development.

(3)        The Cabinet agreed the following:

a)    That additional food and garden bins (AF&GB) were renamed ‘garden waste bin’.

b)    That residents were charged for the assessment, issuing and delivery of additional garden waste bins.

c)     That residents that requested a larger refuse bin above the standard service offered to residents of a 180-litre bin to be charged for the assessment, issuing and delivery of the larger waste bin.

d)    That if a bin was completely lost or a resident could not produce their bin, the replacement cost should be down to the resident; officers would be given discretion to consider any exceptions to this. However, where a bin could be repaired the repair would continue to be free of charge to residents.

e)    Any refinements of the policy will be agreed between the Portfolio Holder and the officers.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

Epping Forest District Council was facing financial challenges and was always striving to reduce costs of services and identify efficiencies. The cost of the Waste Management Contract continues to rise and present challenges, therefore a review of the options to reduce existing waste container costs has been undertaken. The review recommends that Epping Forest District Council introduces charges to residents for additional and replacement waste containers.

Officers had benchmarked with other Local Authorities and found that in line with the best practice elsewhere, many Local Authorities now charge residents for replacement containers when bins are reported lost or stolen. It was believed that residents look after the containers better and keep them off the streets between collections to avoid the replacement costs. This promotes the tidier streets which are so important to our residents.

Other Options for Action:

Do nothing and continue to supply additional and replacement waste containers free of charge. The costs of this will increase year and year and put a financial strain on the waste contract and Epping Forest District Council.