Agenda item

Report of Assistant Director Environmental Services and Interim Executive Director Neighbourhood Services

Purpose of report

This report sets out the possible options for the Kerbside glass collection, a new requirement driven by the Environment Act. It provides the necessary details to enable an informed decision.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1           To support the proposed changes to the service, introducing kerbside glass collections from January 2026.

1.2           To note the potential impacts of the Environment Act on the waste collection service and that a further report on other elements of Simpler Recycling will come forward soon.

Resolved

(1)            That the proposed changes to the waste collection service, introducing kerbside glass collections from January 2026 be supported.

(2)            That the potential impacts of the Environment Act on the waste collection service and that a further report on other elements of Simpler Recycling will come forward soon be noted.

The Assistant Director Environmental Services and Interim Executive Director Neighbourhood Services submitted a report which set out the possible options for the Kerbside glass collection, a new requirement driven by the Environment Act.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services explained that two changes were required to meet the requirements of Simpler Recycling, a new law. Firstly, glass must be collected at the kerbside. In addition, paper and cardboard must be collected separately from the rest of the recycling materials. The initial focus was the introduction of the Kerbside Glass collection in 2025/26.

All of the options considered to introduce kerbside glass collection would unavoidably increase the costs of the service. The proposed option of collecting glass in recycling blue bins was the least expensive. It was also considered straightforward as it did not require extra vehicles or staff and would be easy for residents to use. A communications plan would be developed to inform residents of the changes.

In considering the report, Executive members commented that this was a positive change that would be welcomed by residents. It would particularly benefit residents in rural areas with less access to bring banks.

In response to a query from Councillor Sibley regarding the cost of introducing the scheme from January 2026 rather than April, the Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhood Services explained that whilst there would be some loss of income, it was beneficial for residents for the service to start as soon as practicable.

Resolved

(1)            That the proposed changes to the waste collection service, introducing kerbside glass collections from January 2026 be supported.

(2)            That the potential impacts of the Environment Act on the waste collection service and that a further report on other elements of Simpler Recycling will come forward soon be noted.

Reasons

The council recommends introducing glass recycling from the kerbside by adding it to the blue bin during January 2026 to comply with Simpler Recycling. This approach has several benefits:

·       This should make it easier for residents to recycle their glass and lead to a slight increase in the recycling rate (1-1.5%).

·       It does not require additional capital for new containers or vehicles or the associated revenue implications of capital expenditure.

·       It aligns with the method of glass collection used by Oxford City Council, which is essential as the three councils (including West Oxfordshire) move toward a potential new unitary council.

Remove the remaining banks in a planned manner. In some areas, the bring banks can be a focus for fly tipping. As kerbside glass collection is introduced, the volume of glass through the glass banks will roll out, and the volume of glass through the bring banks will fall.

Alternative options

Option 1: Collect glass mixed in with the blue bin (Preferred Option)

This option involves adding glass to the existing blue bin with other dry-mixed recyclables. It is straightforward, does not require extra vehicles or staff, and is easy for residents to use.

Key Financials: This option has no additional capital costs for new containers or vehicles. While there would be a capital cost of around £1.5 million for new bins for each property to comply with Simpler Recycling fully, this specific option does not add to it. However, the financial value of colour-separated glass is lost, and the gate fee at the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is the same whether glass is present or not, as of a new contract in August 2025. The gate fee would cover 15,000 tonnes of dry mixed recycling with glass, up from 11,500 tonnes without.

Option 2: Collect Glass Separately at the Kerbside (Rejected Option)

This method would require residents to have another container, likely a box, specifically for glass. It would also require more staff and vehicles.

Key Financials: The option for separate kerbside glass collection has significant capital costs:

·        New vehicles: £625,000

·        New kerbside boxes: £316,800

·        Total estimated capital cost: £941,800

·        The costs include delivery of boxes (£30,000) and removal of bring banks (£25,171).

There are also ongoing revenue costs resulting from capital expenditure to consider. Once these are added to the figures in section 4.6, the options relating to separate glass collection become the most expensive to implement. The additional revenue costs are forecast on an incremental basis in the table in the report.

This option also introduces new health and safety risks for collection staff related to manual handling and noise.

Option 3: Produce a TEEP assessment and continue using bring banks (Rejected)

This option involves a TEEP (Technically, Environmentally & Economically Practical) assessment, which may help to delay the implementation of the new requirements. The current low-cost glass bring bank system captures 70% of household glass.  The Kerbside glass collection is significantly more expensive than the current bank system.

A TEEP assessment arguing for a delay in glass collection is unlikely to be robust or accepted. There are no technical or environmental barriers to kerbside collection. The economic argument will likely be considered weak, especially since the council will receive significant EPR funding from November 2025.