The Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel met to discuss significant changes to kerbside waste collection services, including the introduction of a new bin for paper and cardboard and revised collection schedules. The panel also reviewed the council's work plan and forward plan for future scrutiny activities.

Kerbside Waste Collection Changes

The panel received a comprehensive update on the upcoming changes to the kerbside waste and recycling service, driven by legislative requirements and a desire to improve recycling rates. The core of these changes involves the introduction of a new, smaller 180-litre brown bin for mixed dry recyclables, including plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays, metal tins and cans, and liquid cartons. The existing 240-litre blue bin will now be exclusively used for paper and cardboard.

This shift necessitates a revised collection schedule, with recycling collections alternating between mixed dry recyclables and fibre on a fortnightly basis. Residual waste collections will remain fortnightly, and glass will continue to be collected separately every two weeks. This new four-week cycle means:

• Week 1: Residual waste
• Week 2: Mixed dry recycling, glass, and garden waste
• Week 3: Residual waste
• Week 4: Fibre, glass, and garden waste

Lee Richardson, Waste and Recycling Officer, explained that the smaller size of the new brown bin is partly due to the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme¹, which will come into effect in October 2027. This scheme will incentivise the return of plastic bottles and drinks cans for a 20p deposit, meaning these items will no longer be placed in kerbside bins.

The council is investing approximately £3.6 million in this rollout, which includes the distribution of 145,000 new bins. However, officers stated that the new collection model is designed to avoid additional costs for staffing and vehicles by optimising the collection frequency.

A significant point of discussion was the national deferral of the requirement to collect plastic film and flexible plastics, originally due in March 2027, to April 2030. This means the council will not be introducing a rescue bag system for these materials in the immediate future, allowing more time to develop suitable collection, sorting, and reprocessing arrangements.

Extensive pre-service education and engagement are planned to ensure residents understand the changes. This multi-channel campaign will include social media, council newsletters, website content, bin tags, leaflets, community events, and direct communication with elected members. The approach is phased to provide awareness information, property-specific instructions, and reminders before and after the service changes are implemented.

During the discussion, councillors raised concerns about potential confusion, the effectiveness of enforcement measures for contamination, and the logistics of bin storage, particularly for residents with limited space. Officers assured the panel that education would be the primary focus, with enforcement measures, such as fixed penalty notices under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, being a last resort.

Councillor Nick Pritchard questioned the quality of the new bins and how stock would be stored. Lee Richardson confirmed that all bins are manufactured to British standards and would be stored at the waste transfer station for short periods before distribution, ensuring quality is maintained. He also clarified that replacement bins for recycling are currently free, and this policy is intended to continue for the new brown bins, unless a change is agreed through the fees and charges process at full council.

Regarding households with limited space, officers acknowledged this as a concern for a small percentage of properties. They confirmed that while most residents have room for an additional bin, a case-by-case approach would be taken for properties with space constraints. The possibility of residents relinquishing garden waste bins was mentioned, though officers advised against this, emphasising the importance of recycling all waste streams.

The panel also discussed the financial implications of waste management, with officers explaining that while the council pays a gate fee per tonne for materials to be processed at recycling facilities, rebates are received for certain materials like plastic, metal cans, and aluminium.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and Council's Forward Plan

The panel reviewed the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee's work plan for 2026/27 and the council's forward plan of key decisions. Upcoming topics for the Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel include a detailed examination of the strategy for sexual abuse and violence against women and girls in December, and a focus on the Safer Doncaster Partnership, crime and disorder, response times, neighbourhood patrols, and police presence in February. The council's forward plan outlines key decisions expected to be made by Cabinet and other decision-making bodies in the coming months, covering areas such as rough sleeping programmes, creative health initiatives, financial strategies, and local nature recovery.