Operational Planning: Case study - Planning and improving flats recycling systems. Conducting and utilising a flats inventory

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1 Operational Planning: Case study - Planning and improving flats recycling systems Conducting and utilising a flats inventory

2 Conducting and utilising a flats inventory 2 Recycle Western Riverside campaign: conducting a flats inventory Background The Recycle Western Riverside (RWR) campaign is a Western Riverside Waste Authority (WRWA) initiative within the London boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Lambeth, Wandsworth and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. The campaign aims to keep the boroughs at the forefront of recycling and resource management, help to increase recycling, reduce rubbish produced and encourage purchase of recycled products. The campaign is funded by WRWA and Cory Environmental. London Remade Solutions works in partnership with Waste Watch to deliver the campaign. For more information on the campaign please visit To identify opportunities for introducing and improving recycling systems in flats the RWR campaign team undertook a flats inventory in The aim of the inventory was to provide officers with up to date information on blocks of flats in order to inform decisions on: How improvements could be made to existing recycling systems; and To identify sites for new facilities. Planning the flats inventory Each of the four boroughs selected blocks of flats and provided details of the block name, estate name and full address including postcode. This information was used to mark the location of the blocks onto large scale maps. A survey form was developed to allow the team to capture information about each block including: Features of the building (eg the number of households, storeys and whether corridors were enclosed); Details of the refuse collection system (eg the number and type of refuse bins, whether a chute is used); Details of the recycling system (eg the number and type of collection containers, how recycling is transported to the containers); Information and contact details related to the management of the block (eg private managing agent, caretaker, tenants association); Information about potential communication channels within each block (eg whether there was a notice board or regular newsletter); and Recommendations for improving the recycling system.

3 Conducting and utilising a flats inventory 3 Training was provided for the staff to undertake the survey. This included: Health and safety; The aims of the inventory; A half day site visit to practice using the survey form; and A meeting with borough officers to discuss council specific arrangements for waste and recycling. Conducting the flats inventory Over a five week period the team of four visited 475 blocks, completing survey forms and taking photographs. If approached by residents and caretakers the team answered any questions they could, handed out leaflets and advised on the best contact for more detailed enquiries. In Wandsworth, the borough provided the team with forms that they could give out to caretakers that wanted to request recycling facilities. This meant that the borough could speed up the process of installing recycling banks as they did not need to contact the caretaker after the inventory to obtain written permission for the installation of facilities. Information collected was inputted into an Excel spreadsheet. Individual reports for each block were produced to provide an easy to use summary, outlining key information supported by photographs. Using the information collected Officers started using the information collected almost immediately; contacting managing agents and installing new bring facilities where possible. Examples of the follow up work undertaken are outlined below. Unfortunately robust monitoring systems were not in place in any of the authorities, therefore the impact of the new or improved systems was not assessed. Sheltered accommodation In a privately managed sheltered accommodation the inventory identified that residents carers were bringing bags of refuse to refuse bins but that there were no recycling facilities in place. A detailed proposal for improving the recycling system and communicating with residents was prepared following a conversation with the private managing agent. The proposal included the following: A suggested site for 80 litre kerbside recycling containers (round dustbin style) next to the refuse bins; Provision of single use bags to collect and transport the materials. It was felt this would make recycling easier since the resident could separate materials in the flat and the carer would find it easier to transport the recycling to the collection point; and

4 Conducting and utilising a flats inventory 4 Communication methods. After the agent had agreed, a focus group was held for residents to discuss their feelings on the proposed recycling system. The delivery of the recycling containers was arranged and the block was added to the recycling vehicle collection and bag delivery schedules. Door-to-door canvassers visited residents and gave them single use bags and a letter outlining how the new system would work. Posters were put up in communal areas. The team followed up with the warden a month after the scheme launch and she said that the scheme was working well. Converted house During the inventory the team had spoken to a resident who lived in a flat in a converted house. She claimed that none of her neighbours were recycling, despite the fact that the block was included on the kerbside collection system, which should have meant it was easy for residents to recycle. The team undertook a communications campaign to increase recycling which involved: Sending a letter to all residents outlining how the recycling scheme worked; Door-to-door canvassing with delivery of recycling bags and leaflets; Working with the private managing agent to create an information sheet about waste and recycling services for new residents; and Putting up posters in the hallway. The large estate One privately managed estate was made up of six modern blocks of varying sizes. Each block had its own refuse chamber containing 1,100 litre bins; some chambers had space for 1,100 recycling containers while others did not. The team identified space could be made for recycling containers for each of the blocks by simply modifying the refuse bin arrangements. For example in one block 1,100 litre refuse bins could be replaced with 660 litre refuse and recycling containers while still leaving enough capacity for refuse. The team put together a detailed proposal for improving waste management and recycling in all the blocks. This was agreed in principle by the private managing agent although they asked the team to present the proposal at the residents management committee meeting. The committee received the proposed scheme well although there were concerns: That some residents would not recycle; The committee was not prepared to fund the purchase of a new refuse bin of a different size; and They wanted the scheme to be introduced as pilot, as they felt this would make it easier to withdraw if it did not work well.

5 Conducting and utilising a flats inventory 5 Following the meeting the managing agent agreed to cover the cost of the new refuse bins. Reusable bags were ordered to help residents transport recycling to the collection containers. The new system was launched with a communications campaign which included: Working with the managing agent to create a letter which was sent to all residents outlining the new service; Door-to-door canvassing to talk to residents about the new system and deliver reusable bags and leaflets; and Providing posters that were displayed in each block to promote the new system. Unfortunately issues with the collection contractor following the launch of the new system meant that some collections of both refuse and recycling were missed following the launch of the new system. This led to overflowing recycling and refuse containers and several complaints from the managing agent and residents on site. However, the issues were addressed and despite the initial problems, residents did not request the withdrawal of the trial and the system is still in place.