Waste strategy: achieving our vision for more sustainable waste management

Following government updates, we have revised our plan for new waste and recycling collections. View the latest information about changes to recycling and rubbish collections. 

As a society we have become used to being able to buy new household goods, clothes, food and furniture quickly and easily.

It is relatively easy for us to throw things away and purchase new ones whenever we choose to.

Each time we buy something new and throw something away, there is an environmental impact.

It is vital that householders have the correct information and knowledge to enable them to make the behavioural changes necessary to reduce the environmental impact of waste in the New Forest. And it is vital that we offer a service which enables householders to do the right thing.

There is still a large proportion of our general waste that could be recycled or composted. Our current waste collection service offers unlimited sack collections for general waste.

This system does not encourage residents to reduce general waste or encourage the correct use of our recycling services.

Our performance levels have remained unchanged for five years, it is clear that more radical action is needed to close the gap between the New Forest and England's top performing authorities.

The implementation of a new collection system that collects a wider range of materials and encourages minimisation, is a key first step in the execution of this waste strategy. But success will only be possible with additional engagement and communication actions to reach the resident participation levels needed to achieve our targets.

The following  will explain the actions we will initiate to meet the strategy objectives.

These actions are focused on the upper tier of the waste hierarchy namely waste prevention, reuse and recycling. T

hey are listed in priority order, again following importance as identified by the waste hierarchy, but additionally towards streams where the most waste is produced and where our actions will have the greatest impact.

Priority 1: waste prevention actions

Action number 1: restricting household general waste capacity

The introduction of wheeled bins for general waste will encourage waste minimisation practices, more recycling and composting (this is in contrast to our existing service which provides an unlimited service).

This is the primary action set to encourage behaviour change and ensure that only non-recyclable materials are added to general waste in the New Forest.

This action is also vital to improve health and safety for our operatives, who are at considerable risk when collecting sacks.

An alternative service will be provided for properties not suitable for a wheeled bin. More detail can be seen in section 8 of this document.

Objectives met for action number 1:

• minimise carbon impact
• increase recycling
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Action number 2: collect general waste fortnightly

Collecting general waste fortnightly will encourage waste reduction practices, and increase recycling and composting, especially of food waste. Households would receive a collection of general waste one week and then a recycling collection the following week.

Alongside this action we will implement a weekly food waste collection service. Increased frequency of food waste collections will encourage the separation of this material for recycling.

This action will also reduce the number of vehicles required to make collections of general waste, reducing emissions and saving carbon.

Objectives met for action number 2:

• minimise carbon impact
• increase recycling
• reduce waste

Action number 3: introduce an effective side waste policy

Household general waste capacity will be defined by the capacity of the bin provided. Therefore, a clear policy not to collect additional waste left beside the wheeled bin will be introduced.

This will support actions 1 and 2, and further encourage waste prevention behaviours throughout our community.

Objectives met for action number 3:

• minimise carbon impact
• increase recycling
• reduce waste

Action number 4: promote home composting

Composting any appropriate food and garden waste at home is the most carbon efficient way of dealing with this type of waste, as it never enters the waste management system and therefore does not become 'waste'.

We will work with residents to increase awareness of the benefits of home composting, sharing the skills and the tools needed to compost successfully.

We will increase communication campaigns, outreach activities, and continue to work with Hampshire County Council to offer reduced price compost bins.

Objectives met for action number 4:

• minimise carbon impact
• increase recycling
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Action number 5: promote food waste reduction campaign

In 2018, a comprehensive waste composition analysis found that almost 40% of New Forest residents' general waste was food waste.

It is important that the environmental impact of this wasted food is considered from cradle to grave.

Only buying what we need, planning meals and storing food correctly can help minimise wasted food. We will increase our communication campaigns and outreach activities to help reduce the environmental impact of wasted food in the New Forest.

Objectives met for action number 5:

• minimise carbon impact
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Action number 6: implement a waste reduction plan (see appendix 2)

These actions will form part of a broader waste reduction plan.

These actions will help reduce food waste, garden waste, textiles, bulky waste, nappy waste, batteries and small electricals.

The plan will closely follow the priorities of the waste strategy and will set actions, measurement and targets (where appropriate) for each waste stream.

Objectives met for action number 6:

• minimise carbon impact
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Priority 2: reuse actions 

Action number 7: increase reuse and repair of bulky waste

The disposal options available to us for bulky waste are limited, much of the material is unsuitable for energy recovery and therefore if it cannot be reused. It will be sent to landfill, which increases the environment impact of this waste.

We will work to increase the reuse opportunities for bulky items and raise awareness of the environmental impact of disposal.

We will work with charities and Hampshire County Council to encourage donation over disposal and promote repair schemes/initiatives within the New Forest.

Objectives met for action number 7:

• minimise carbon impact
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Action number 8: Increase textiles reuse

We will continue to provide textiles banks across the district using the county framework agreement and work to expand the provision of banks by assessing new sites to increase reuse and recycling opportunities for textiles.

We will review our position within the county framework agreement to ensure that the best provision for textile reuse is available in the New Forest.

Objectives met for action number 8:

• minimise carbon impact
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Priority 3: recycling actions

Action number 9: introduce a separate weekly food waste collection

Whilst we will work to reduce overall food wasted through waste prevention activities and the promotion of home composting, there is also a recognition that some food waste is unavoidable and not all residents have the space and ability to compost at home.

The Environment Act 2021 states that all councils should operate a separate weekly food waste collection. We will therefore implement this service.

All food waste will be processed at an anaerobic digestion facility. This process produces electricity, and it also produces fertiliser that can be used on farmland.

Objectives met for action number 9:

• minimise carbon impact
• increase recycling
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Action number 10: increase the range of dry materials that we collect from the kerbside

It is recognised that in Hampshire there are still some materials that are not recyclable at the kerbside. In line with government recommendations to deliver consistent recycling collections across England, we will increase the range of materials collected.

This will include:

• foil, an increased range of plastics, including pots, tubs and trays, film and flexible plastic (and possibly beverage cartons, subject to government requirements)
• increased frequency of glass collections from the current 4 weeks to fortnightly

Objectives met for action number 10:

• minimise carbon impact
• increase recycling
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Action number 11: provide wheeled bins for mixed dry recyclable materials and a reusable sack to separate paper and cardboard

Collecting more recycling is not the only priority. We must ensure that the collection process helps maintain material quality so that it can be recycled and its value maximised. The way we separate material is key to this.

We will provide a wheeled bin for the following materials:

• plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays and film
• metal tins and cans
• glass bottles and jars
• possible inclusions of beverage cartons, subject to government requirements

Residents will be able to add these materials directly into the wheeled bin which means we will be saving at least 6 million single-use plastic sacks every year.

This action is also vital to improve health and safety for our operatives, who are at considerable risk working with sack collection service.

To improve the quality of the paper and cardboard, it needs to be kept separate from other materials including glass and items that may have come into contact with food, such as plastic containers.

It also needs to be kept dry before collection.

We will be providing residents with a reusable sack in which they can store and present their paper and cardboard.

The sack will be waterproof and weighted, which will help maintain the material quality and prevent the bag from blowing away on windy days.

The paper and cardboard will be collected on the same day as the mixed materials in the wheeled bin.

Our vehicles will have two compartments to keep these materials separate.

An alternative service will be provided for properties not suitable for a wheeled bin. More detail can be seen in section 8 of this document.

Objectives met for action number 11:

• minimise carbon impact
• increase recycling
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Action number 12: Review bring site provision across the district

We need to carry out further work to help us tackle the following issues at our bring sites:

• illegal fly-tipping and dumping
• illegal trade waste use of the household waste service
• contaminated bins which can spoil any legitimately added recyclable material meaning it is wasted

We will add more locations for recycling of beverage cartons, for an interim period before they are added to kerbside collections.

We will also work with our enforcement team to address these issues and review the provision of bring sites across the district.

Objectives met for action number 12:

• minimise carbon impact
• reduce waste

Action number 13: provide wheeled bins for garden waste customers

Work has been carried out to assess the best collection option for the garden waste service. Health and safety, operations, recycling tonnages and service costs were fully considered.

To mitigate the health and safety implications for our operatives, and increase garden waste recycling tonnages, we will introduce wheeled bins in replacement of the current reusable sack system.

It is likely that this change will take place after the introduction of the new general waste and recycling service changes.

An alternative service will be provided for properties not suitable for a wheeled bin. More detail can be seen in section 8 of this document.

Objectives met for action number 13:

• minimise carbon impact
• increase recycling
• reduce waste
• legislative and regulatory compliance

Actions 2022 to 2024

Many of the actions detailed above relate to a frontline service change which will take place from 2024 onwards.

In the period 2022 to 2024 it is important to note that:

• the service change will require a significant planning and implementation phase to ensure the change can be delivered on time
• during this period, we will continue to monitor future government policies and legislation as they continue to implement the national strategy. Where necessary for compliance, actions in this strategy will need to be flexible and adaptable
• certain actions are semi-independent for the frontline service change and will be delivered during the period 2022-2024 and beyond - such as the review of bring sites and large elements of the waste reduction plan