Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director Environmental Services and Corporate Director Communities.

Purpose of report

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

Recommendations

 The Overview & Scrutiny Committee resolves:

1.1         Support the proposed changes to the service, introducing kerbside glass collections in January 2026.

1.2      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 to Executive in the near future

Resolved

(1)   That having given due consideration, the Kerbside Glass Collection Service report be noted.

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director Environmental Services and Corporate Director Communities detailing options for Kerbside glass collection, and other new requirements driven by the Environment Act.

In introducing the report, the Leader of the Council & Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership, highlighted that he was delighted to announce that the Executive was supporting the introduction of kerbside glass recycling collection, fulfilling a long term desire from residents of the district.

In further introducing the report, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that due to legislative changes, by April 2026 councils were required to provide residents kerbside collections of paper, cardboard, cans, plastic bottles, and glass.

Members were also advised of the Deposit Return Scheme and the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, which would introduce refundable deposits for drinks containers, as well as greater responsibility for packaging producers to reimburse councils for collection and treatment costs.

Members were also advised of the Emissions Trading Scheme that would target energy from waste plants and would pose increased costs for processing of non-recyclable waste, and therefore an emphasis would be placed on encouraging and facilitating recycling practices for residents and businesses in the district. 

In response to a question regarding kerbside collection of glass, and whether residents would be able to place glass in their blue bins or would they require a dedicated glass bin, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that there was a potential for residents to require an additional separate receptacle for some recycled items in the future, however initially glass could go in the existing blue bin. As recycling trends shift going forward due to initiatives such as the Deposit Return Scheme, the amount and type of material residents had to recycle could change. More detail on the various schemes was expected during 2026, which would help the Council plan to meet those needs.

In response to a question regarding what the Council was doing to encourage positive behavioural changes in residents regarding waste collection, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that ongoing consultation with members and residents was needed over the next 18 months regarding the format of waste collection services. Possible changes in residual waste collection would potentially encourage further usage of recycling services, as well as the food waste collection service.

In response to a question regarding plans for the bottle banks in the wake of kerbside collection of glass recycling, and whether the relation between bottle banks and fly tipping had been considered, Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that bottle banks would be removed from problem areas first, and then from other areas across the wider district. Specific timeframes for the removal of all banks wasn’t currently known, as it would depend on how quickly people altered their habits with disposing of glass. The Assistant Director Environmental Services confirmed that associated signage and communications with residents would be used to notify of the changes.

In response to a question regarding whether consideration was given to the impact of the removal of bottle banks on other collection banks such as textile and charity collections at the same locations, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that it was highly likely that other collection banks would be removed alongside the bottle banks due to issues with collection and associated fly tipping.

Regarding whether the Council had made plans relating to publicity for textile recycling if specific collection banks were removed, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that as the Council had made efforts to expand its collection services in the past to include batteries and small electrical items, it was not unlikely that if there was a need for kerbside textile collection then it could be considered.

In response to a question regarding the potential loss of income resulting from the lack of separation of more valuable coloured glass at bottles banks, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that prices for glass fluctuate and that there would be repercussions from no longer colour separating glass., However, glass would be separated by colour at processing centres and there would still be an income for the Council. On the whole the glass industry was positive about the changes being made to glass recycling. 

In response to a question regarding the value of the potential loss of income, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that as the wholesale prices for glass was set by global trends that it was subject to change, and in recent years had fluctuated from £20 to £100 per tonne. On average glass collection within the district was currently around 3,500 tonnes and the current value was £70 per tonne.

In response to a question regarding the potential lack of uptake of the Deposit Return Scheme with residents as a result of low deposits not being perceived as worthwhile, the Assistant Director Environmental Services explained that the uptake would very much depend on the value of the deposits set, and a higher value would incentivise returns of recyclable goods under the scheme.

Resolved

(1)   That having given due consideration, the Kerbside Glass Collection Service report be noted.