Waste strategy: resident engagement

Many changes considered in this strategy document are driven by legislation and the need to manage our waste more sustainably.

However, successfully implementing a more sustainable service will only be possible if everyone within the New Forest community is fully informed and able to play an active role.

In the development of this strategy, we have sought the views of a full range of stakeholders, including residents, elected members, town and parish councils, business owners, partner and local organisations, landowners and our own waste and transport staff.

Two main pieces of work have been carried out.

In January 2020, we wanted to understand residents' current recycling behaviours, motivators to recycle, and their views on the service.

An inclusive and representative, door-to-door and online survey was carried out with almost 4,000 residents.

This initial survey helped us assess residents' general appetite for recycling, and their understanding of our recycling services.

It gave an insight into how we might better communicate with residents in the future; and it helped us understand what barriers may exist when statutory changes are implemented.

After the release of our draft waste strategy document, a formal period of engagement was open from 12 November to 20 December 2020.

This provided residents and other stakeholders with the opportunity to learn more about the draft waste strategy, and to submit their views and comments using an online survey or paper survey form. Written letters and emails were also accepted.

The draft waste strategy proposed a new collection system for the New Forest that included:

• a weekly food waste collection service using a caddy
• an alternate weekly collection of general waste and recycling, meaning that general waste is collected one week, and recycling the next week
• a twin-stream collection of dry recyclable materials using a wheeled bin and a reusable bag Introduction of a wheeled bin for general waste
• the option of a wheeled bin for garden waste

An external analysis of 3,863 survey responses was carried out which included over 8,000 free text box entries.

We have fully considered all comments received and the results from the engagement survey.

Further technical studies have been carried out and additional policies have been added to this document to address resident concerns.

Summary findings and mitigating actions

Residents of the New Forest have a strong willingness to recycle more and reduce waste, as indicated by most respondents being in favour of the introduction of a food waste collection service and changes to recycling collections.

Two thirds of respondents think that it is positive that recycling will be improving.

Furthermore, our 2020 door-to-door survey found that 99% of respondents recycle using our clear sacks and 75% would like to be able to recycle a wider range of materials.

Half of the respondents to the survey support the introduction of wheeled bins to contain general waste and mixed recycling.

Amongst respondents saying they would be affected by changes to the garden waste service, 41% stated a preference for a wheeled bin for garden waste while 59% would prefer a bag.

Those in favour felt that bins were a good way of preventing litter associated with split bags.

The biggest concern expressed by residents is the issue of storage space for the bins. This concern was echoed by town and parish councils, and it appears that a potential lack of storage heightens apprehension about the overall visual impact of wheeled bins.

Residents and councillors felt that problems associated with storage and handling of bins may mean that bins are permanently left at the front of properties, or on the street.

Looking at data from Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) we know that most authorities using wheeled bins operate a split service to deal with storage issues.

This means that the majority of households use the "core" wheeled bin service, with a relatively low percentage of properties using an alternative service where bins are not suitable.

We will develop a clear collection policy, which will set out the criteria to be used when deciding if a particular area or individual household is or isn't suitable for the core service.

Surveys will be carried out to identify these areas in detail.

Consideration will be given to (for example):

• households with no or limited external storage for containers (for example, some terraced housing)
• households which currently use communal waste/recycling facilities (for example, flats or houses in multiple occupation)
• households in areas only accessible by specialist vehicles due to difficult access (for example, some very rural areas)

We currently provide an assisted collection service for residents who have a disability, illness, mobility issue, or injury, that prevents them from taking their waste to the edge of their property.

For these residents, our operatives collect waste and recycling from inside the property boundary as requested by the householder.

There was concern highlighted in our survey for elderly and disabled residents with regards to the handling of wheeled bins.

We recognise this concern and are committed to ensuring that all residents that need an assisted collection service are aware of the service available.

For over a quarter of our residents, changes to the frequency of general waste and recycling collection would work well, however concerns were raised about the storage of waste and provision of containers.

Looking at best practice and examining tonnage data shows that restricting general waste capacity using wheeled bins and alternating waste collections with recycling collections is the most effective way of encouraging residents to recycle more and waste less.

We know from our surveys that many residents have a strong willingness to recycle more, however the environmental/carbon reduction benefit of moving to an alternate weekly collection to reduce overall household waste was less frequently cited by residents.

This shows that we need to communicate this benefit better.

Communications and education with regards to waste prevention and maximising use of all recycling services, will therefore be a key focus of the strategy.

See section 8 of this document for information on future waste collection policies.