The Environment and Economy Select Committee met to discuss recycling in flat blocks, including interviewing Councillor Rob Broom, the Cabinet Portfolio holder for Environment and Planning Policy, and reviewing a written response from Dacorum District Council. The committee also received feedback from a site visit to the Cavendish Road Depot and a ride along in a refuse and recycling freighter.

Recycling in Flat Blocks Scrutiny Review

The committee interviewed Councillor Rob Broom, Cabinet Portfolio holder for Environment and Planning Policy, about his plans for improving recycling in Stevenage. They also reviewed a written response from Dacorum District Council regarding their approach to recycling in flat blocks. The questions for both parties had been submitted in advance by Councillor Leanne Brady, Chair of Environment and Economy Select Committee.

Key discussion points included:

• Priorities for improving recycling: Councillor Rob Broom's priorities included setting targets for improved recycling, identifying barriers, and considering the potential impact of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) on refuse and recycling services. He also shared his vision for successful recycling infrastructure in Stevenage in the next 5 to 10 years, and how success should be measured.

• Dacorum District Council's experience: The committee reviewed Dacorum District Council's experiences of improving recycling in flat blocks, including recycling levels before and after dedicated projects, the number of flats covered, and differences between private and council stock recycling rates. They also discussed barriers to improvement, misuse of communal bring bank sites[^2], and methods for engaging the community.

  [^2]: Bring banks are recycling collection points, usually found in public places such as supermarket car parks.

Feedback from Cavendish Road Depot Site Visit

The committee received feedback from members who attended a site visit to the Cavendish Road Depot [https://www.google.com/maps/search/Cavendish+Road+Depot+Stevenage/] and a ride along in a refuse and recycling freighter. Councillor Leanne Brady, Chair of Environment and Economy Select Committee, summarised the main observations for those who could not attend. These included:

• Limited space for bin storage in older blocks.
• Difficulties posed by stair access.
• The impact of poor signage and contamination on recycling levels.

Councillor Leanne Brady, Chair of Environment and Economy Select Committee, noted the value of the site visits in informing the committee's ongoing scrutiny of waste and recycling services.

Waste and Recycling in Residential Council Flat Blocks - Previous Minutes

The committee reviewed the minutes of their previous meeting on 1 September 2025, where they received a presentation on waste and recycling from residential council flat blocks.

Key points from the presentation included:

• Approximately 8,000 flats exist in Stevenage, representing 21% of the housing stock.
• Many flats were built in the 1960s and 1970s before modern waste systems, creating long-term challenges.
• Key issues included a lack of space for bins, difficult access and stairs, and higher rates of contamination compared to houses.
• Refuse chutes in high-rise blocks were often abused or blocked, creating fire risks and requiring daily attendance from caretaking teams.
• Borough-wide contamination rates stood at 1.2%, but flats contributed disproportionately due to misuse and limited information.
• Case studies from Turpin's Rise [https://www.google.com/maps/search/Turpin's+Rise+Stevenage/] and Monument Court [https://www.google.com/maps/search/Monument+Court+Stevenage/] showed excess cardboard, dumping beside bins, and residents using bin stores incorrectly.
• Lessons from phase 1 pilot sites showed large increases in recycling rates following the introduction of new signage and leaflets.
• Phase 2 pilots were being prepared with further sites selected across the town.
• Government funding of £700,000 had been secured through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to support the works required by the March 2026 'Simpler Recycling' deadline.

Members raised concerns about high-rise refuse chutes and fire risk, the frequency and capacity of collections, misuse and external dumping, CCTV coverage, and the affordability of bulky waste charges. They also discussed fly tipping at Bring Bank sites, consistency of Bring Bank provision, new legislation and deadlines, ramps and bin stores, funding and costs, pilot outcomes, and resident feedback on interventions.

The committee discussed possible areas for recommendations, including:

• Encouraging recycling with awards and recognition for the areas with the most recycling.
• Using large colour wraps on bin lids to differentiate different recycling bins.
• Using mobile CCTV of Bring Bank sites with signage saying CCTV in operation.
• Ensuring that members see any future plans to rationalise Bring Bank sites for early consideration ahead of any public consultation.

The committee noted the update and expressed support for the work being undertaken, recognising the challenges of implementing recycling provision across such a diverse range of flat blocks.