green waste collection and
TRANSCRIPT
Green Waste Collectionand
Management at Civic Amenity Centres
Mark Heesom
14th March 2006
Cré Green Waste Composting
Collection / Management Options
Household Green Waste
Home Composting
Direct Segregated Collection
Civic Amenity Sites
Local ‘Bring Centres’
Compost BinsMulching
Home Composting
Advantages• Minimal establishment costs• No ongoing collection requirement• Rapid roll out• Product reused locally• Managed by householder
Disadvantages• Managed by householder!• Requires ongoing management / encouragement / monitoring• Significant drop out rate • Quantifying actual tonnage/percentage recovered • Can the LA count the recovery rate towards their own figures?
• Doesn't work too well in flats…
Civic Amenity Centres
• Most common form of green waste ‘collection’ at present
• Majority of people familiar with CA sites
Key Issues for Operators• Contamination• Transportation and Servicing• Uneven loading of sites throughout year• Storage on Site
How can we deal with some of these issues?
Transport and Servicing
•Capacity issues on site esp. in summer months•Compaction is essential tool for busier sites•Significant resource requirement esp. in summer (skips and vehicles)
Storage of Green Waste on Site
Three key storage methods:• Skips
• Inexpensive• Universal• Require higher level access• Can be difficult to remove contamination
• Bays• Easy to use• Easy to empty (does require loading equipment)• Can be untidy
• Compactor Bins• More accessible than skips• Expensive• Require greater staff time
Important to remember• Safety (esp. public and service vehicles/equipment)• Need for regular rotation of waste
Co-Location of CA Siteand Process Centre
Advantages• Significant transport savings
• Visible closed loop process encouraging public participation and buy in
• Easy opportunities for re-sale
• Process Control
Disadvantages• Concern by residents over:
•Pathogen release•Dust•Noise•Vermin
• Space constraints
• Problematic in urban areas
CA Site Best Practice
• Prominent well placed signage
• Clear and consistent signage on each container showing what can and cannot be deposited
• Contractual arrangements which incentivise recycling– Esp. incentives for facility operator– Consider user incentive schemes (discounts, reusable bags, free compost)
• Split level systems for easy access
• Good feedback to the public / users
• Ensure residual waste skips last in line or ‘out of way’
• Education / Information systems– Web sites– Leaflets– School visits / information
CA Site Best Practice
• Good health and safety practices
• High level of staff knowledge– Friendly and helpful
• ‘Closed Loop’ systems– Sale of compost product on facility
• Sale of composting products– Home compost bins/systems
Local Bring Centres
• Based on principal of existing Dry Recyclable Bring Centres• Dedicated collection container for Green / Organic Waste only• Could be co-located with other segregated collection systems
Advantages• Could be located locally to green waste producers i.e. housing estates• Simple rollout method• Cost effective modular installation system• Doesn't require extra household bin• Require developers to install a part of planning permissions?...
Challenges• Perception and Acceptance by Public• Whole new infrastructure system• Contamination Issues (already exist with Dry Recyclables on unmanned
systems)
Conclusion
• Optimum green waste management system would take a holistic view
• Integrate multiple forms of management working in conjunction
Home Composting System
Bring Centre System
Civic Amenity Sites
Separate Round Collection Least Desirable
Most Desirable
• Mgmt Cost• Mgmt Time• Resource Rqmt
Conclusion
• Requires significant investment for such a concept to become reality
• Sea change in attitude and perception required• Considerable need for education and information
whichever system is adopted• Essential to get public ‘buy in’ esp. for segregated
collection (CA Sites, Doorstep Collection)
References
Operating Civic Amenity Sites SafelyHealth and Safety Executive
Best Practice Guide‘Maximising Diversion at Household Waste Recycling Centres’S3 Environmental Solutions Ltd
National assessment of Civic Amenity Sites‘Maximising Recycling Rates at Civic Amenity Sites’Future West Network Recycling
Managing Garden Waste at Civic Amenity Centres‘Good Practice Guide’WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme)