Subject:

Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Strategy

Date of Meeting:

22 June 2021

Report of:

Executive Director: Economy, Environment & Culture

Contact Officer:

Name:

Lynsay Cook

Tel:

01273 292448

 

Email:

Lynsay.cook@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Ward(s) affected:

All

 

 

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

 

1.         PURPOSE OF REPORT AND POLICY CONTEXT

 

1.1         City Environment is responsible for managing waste and street cleansing across Brighton & Hove. There are a range of different bin types across the city which have been historically located on an ad-hoc basis, with the type and location not recorded. The service has responded to need in terms of locating bins based on intelligence provided by staff, councillors and residents as to litter hotspots. There is also limited provision for on-the-go recycling.

 

1.2         The Strategy also sets out the council’s approach to tackling the problem of littering and fly-tipping.

 

1.3         This report presents the vision and objectives of the Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Strategy, along with the Action Plan detailing how it will be delivered.

 

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:    

 

2.1         That Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves the Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Strategy in Appendix 1 and the Action Plan in Appendix 2.

 

3.            CONTEXT/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

3.1         City Environment is responsible for providing litter bins and street cleansing for a city that:

·                Is 34 square miles in size

·                Has 700 miles of pavement

·                Has 7.5 miles of seafront

·                Has 147 parks and open spaces covering around 4.64 square miles

·                Has 290,000 residents

·                Welcomes 12 million visitors a year

 

3.2         Currently there are a range of different bin types across the city which have been historically located on an ad-hoc basis, with the type and location not recorded. The service has responded to need in terms of locating bins based on intelligence provided by staff, councillors and residents as to litter hotspots.

 

3.3         The Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Strategy in Appendix 1 and the Action Plan in Appendix 2 sets out a new approach to managing litter and street cleansing. The purpose of the Strategy is to provide an infrastructure of bins that meet the needs of residents and visitors when out and about in the city, at the beach or in our open spaces. In doing so, our ambition is not only to improve the cleanliness of the city by reducing litter, but also to:

·                Contribute to an increase in biodiversity by reducing the harmful effects of littering which pollutes the environment

·                Influence behaviours to reduce the creation of litter

·                Contribute to carbon reduction by increasing the provision of ‘on the go’ recycling facilities and building in circular economy principles to the way which ‘on the go’ waste is managed

·                Improve the look of the city by having a uniform style of bin that is sympathetic to the architecture and heritage of the city.

 

3.4         The underlying approach of the strategy is to make it easy for residents, businesses and visitors to do the right thing.

 

Progress to date

 

3.5         Work has already started to improve litter bin provision across the city, to deliver the objectives listed in 3.3. This includes auditing the current litter bin provision across the city to:

·                Replace dog poo bins with general litter bins, wherever possible, to increase capacity

·                Sampling of the ‘on the go’ recycling bins in the seafront to understand how they are being used

 

3.6         A new project has started, reviewing the number, location and type of bins in parks. Using this data, a blueprint for future bin provision is being prepared to 1) ensure capacity is correct for the usage and footfall in the park 2) ensure that bins are in optimum locations 3) identify opportunities for on-the-go recycling. This approach is being piloted in seven parks, with a view to rollout wider depending on the outcomes of the pilots. The pilot parks are Hove Park, Preston Park, Saltdean Oval, St Ann’s Well Gardens, Stanmer Park, Valley Gardens and Wish Park.

 

3.7         The total number of bins required for the city will not be known until the audit work is complete. It is estimated that over the next five years, 1500 bins will need to be replaced or installed, which will cost in the region of £1.000m. Wherever possible, and in line with circular economy principles, existing bins will be refurbished and reused, as is current practice. Furthermore, new or replacement bins will be appropriate to the location and surrounding environment.

 

3.8         A litter reduction project has started with Surfers Against Sewerage, Leave No Trace Brighton and seafront traders to reduce litter generated on the seafront. A particular focus is how to reduce the use of single use plastic on the seafront, including plastic-lined coffee cups. An accreditation scheme is in development to pilot with seafront traders which will provide recognition for businesses that manage the waste they generate responsibly, and encourage their customers to do likewise.

 

3.9         Over recent weeks, City Environment has been working with partners to clear litter and debris from the A27, using the £0.055m committed at Budget Council. This has included:

·                Hollingbury to Hove westbound: 1.3 tonnes rubbish removed

·                Southwick Tunnel to Hangleton Slip Road: 0.780 tonnes litter and 0.360 tonnes metal removed

·                Hangleton Slip Road to Southwick Tunnel, including slip road: 2.560 tonnes built-up silt and 0.520 tonnes litter removed

·                Westbound slip road after Falmer: 4.100 tonnes built-up silt and 0.100 tonnes litter removed

·                Devil’s Dyke and Patcham on slip road Eastbound: 0.160 tonnes litter removed

 

3.10      The current approach to clearing the A27 is under review and changes will be made as necessary.

 

3.11      The Environmental Enforcement Team continues to educate about littering and fly-tipping, as well as issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) where there is evidence of environmental crimes. Since October 2020, mobile CCTV cameras have been installed at 14 hotspot sites across the city. 185 FPNs have been issued to fly-tippers and those caught littering. There has been a noticeable difference in the cleanliness of these sites. Fly-tipping continues to be monitored and the cameras will be deployed to other areas as necessary.

 

3.12      The council again took part in to Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean, under the banner of Keep Brighton & Hove Tidy. Our events, which ran from 31 May to 6 June 2021, included:

·                The launch of the Adopt-a-Street Programme

·                The Cityclean and Ranger Big Tidy Up

·                Dust Up Your Doorstep

·                Lewes Road Big Tidy Up

·                The launch of Tidy Up Your Twitten

·                The Mayor’s Big Tidy Up

·                Overnight cleans in Kensington Gardens / Gloucester Road, George Street (Hove), Goldstone Villas / Hove Station and Boundary Road

 

3.13      Cityclean is working closely with the Highways England maintenance contractor to develop plans to ensure the council has regular times over the course of the year to access the A27, which dovetail with verge-cutting.

 

4.            National Resources and Waste Strategy

 

4.1         The government has recently consulted on the introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and on Extended Producer Responsibility. Both of these will impact on the volumes and types of waste to be collected across the city. The DRS will particularly impact on litter.

 

4.2         As per the consultation response in the Resources and Waste Strategy – Government consultation item on today’s agenda, Brighton & Hove has expressed a preference for a UK-wide Deposit Return Scheme to be implemented to tackle the problem of litter as well as ensure consistency between all parts of the UK.

 

5.            Dependencies in the City Environment Modernisation Programme

 

5.1         The activities undertaken to deliver the Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Strategy complement other City Environment projects and activities.

 

5.2         Implementing a model to manage commercial bins on the highway (as per the item on today’s agenda) will help tackle litter. The presence of commercial bins on the city’s pavements and roads encourage the public to use them. However, because they are locked (a condition of their Duty of Care), litter is then discarded nearby rather than in a public bin, when the lid cannot be opened.

 

5.3         Whilst it is preferable that people do the right thing and dispose of their waste responsibly, sadly not everyone does. The Environmental Enforcement Framework sets out what action will be taken when there is evidence of people committing an environmental crime, including littering and fly-tipping. As per the Environmental Enforcement Framework item on today’s agenda, the Framework is reviewed on a regular basis to further improve the cleanliness of the city.

 

5.4         The Graffiti Reduction Strategy is seeking to reduce the volume of graffiti across the city. Whilst this will not directly contribute to a reduction in litter, it will help to improve the look of the city.

 

5.5         The Communal bin system project is reviewing the existing communal system and identifying areas for improvement, which will support delivery of the Bin Infrastructure Strategy. For example, by creating a complete bin bay and placing the different waste streams together, residents and visitors should be able to dispose of their waste in the right waste stream, instead of placing it in the wrong stream, or dropping as litter if the right bin is not available

 

6.            ANALYSIS & CONSIDERATION OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

 

6.1         Members can choose not to approve the Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Strategy and Action Plan and City Environment can continue with its current activities, without seeking to deliver improvements.

 

7.            COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CONSULTATION

 

7.1         Residents do an incredible job in helping to keep the city clean and tidy. Hundreds of volunteers and community groups litter-pick the beach and parks and open spaces, paint out graffiti and remove weeds. City Environment will continue to support these activities and residents can contact communitycleanup@brighton-hove.gov.uk to request materials, PPE or waste collections following a clear up.

 

6.         CONCLUSION

 

6.1         This report and the appendices present the Bin Infrastructure Strategy and Action Plan. Through delivery of the Strategy, the council will improve its approach to tackling littering and fly-tipping.

 

6.2         Updates on delivery of the Strategy will be presented to committee as part of the regular City Environment Modernisation Programme updates.

 

7.         FINANCIAL & OTHER IMPLICATIONS:

 

Financial Implications:

 

7.1         The required replacement of bins across the city over five years is currently estimated at £1.000m. To mitigate these costs, existing bins will be refurbished and reused. Reductions in costs of fly-tipping and litter picking as a result of the strategy, as well as surplus income from Fixed Penalty Notices would contribute to the bin infrastructure costs. Once the audit of bins is complete the financial implication will be recognised and brought to a future committee for a decision.

Any additional spend as a result of the Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Strategy and Action Plan will be contained within existing City Clean budgets and any significant variation to budget will be reported as part of the council's monthly budget monitoring process.

 

            Finance Officer Consulted: John Lack                                         Date: 09/06/2021

 

Legal Implications:

 

7.2         The Council, as a highway authority and a principal litter authority, has  a statutory duty under s89 (1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to ensure that its publicly maintained highways and publicly accessible open land is kept clear of litter and refuse, so far as is practicable.

           

            Lawyer Consulted: Hilary Woodward                                           Date: 08/06/2021

 

            Equalities Implications:

 

7.3         City Environment will comply with the regulations in regard to ensuring street furniture does not cause an obstruction on the highway. For new infrastructure schemes, an Equality Impact Assessment will be completed, which will include discussions with disability groups int eh city.

 

            Sustainability Implications:

 

7.4         By ensuring sufficient litter bin provision across the city, through delivery of the Action Plan, there should be a reduction in litter, which will have a positive impact on Brighton & Hove’s environment.

 

7.5         Providing ‘on the go’ recycling facilities will improve the council’s recycling rate.

 

7.6         Other sustainability impacts, including the impact on the seafront and the reduction in use of single use plastics are detailed in the report and in Appendix 1.

 

            Crime & Disorder Implications:

 

7.7       By ensuring sufficient litter bin provision across the city, through delivery of the Action Plan, the potential for environmental crimes will reduce.

 

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Appendices:

 

1.         Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Strategy

2.         Bin Infrastructure & Litter Reduction Action Plan

 

 

Background Documents

 

1.         N/A