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1 Introduction
1.1 Background
Strategic Waste Funding has been awarded by the Scottish Executive to all 32 Scottish local authorities to assist in the roll out of kerbside collection schemes. The majority of these schemes focus on the collection of recyclate and green waste from single-occupancy dwellings. However, multi-occupancy dwellings account for a substantial part of the Scottish housing stock. Nationally, 33% of households are in multi-occupancy properties. These properties tend to be concentrated in large towns and cities and locally the proportion can be greater.
Multi-occupancy properties face particular problems and difficulties in the storage and collection of recoverable waste. At present, the only recycling provision for many of these properties is local recycling centres and points. The challenge for many local authorities will be to implement viable recycling schemes in multi-occupancy properties in a cost effective manner.
The principal aim of this project was to evaluate the performance and cost-effectiveness of seven multi-occupancy pilot recycling schemes that are being carried out across Scotland.
In February 2005 SISTech, in partnership with LEEP, was commissioned by the Scottish Executive to carry out an evaluation of seven pilot recycling schemes in Scotland. The pilot recycling schemes focus on the collection of recyclates from multi-occupancy properties e.g. flats and tenement buildings.
1.2 Policy context
The National Waste Plan (Scottish Executive & SEPA, 2003) establishes the direction of the Scottish Executive's policies for sustainable waste management. The plan sets out the following targets:
- Provide segregated kerbside waste collections to over 90% of Scottish households by 2020
- 25% recycling/composting by 2006
- 55% recycling/composting (35% recycling and 20% composting) by 2020
- Stop growth in the amount of municipal waste by 2010
- Reduce landfilling of Biodegradable Municipal Waste ( BMW) to 1.5 million tonnes by 2006.
A further target was added as a result of the 2004 spending review (Scottish Executive, 2004):
- 30% recycling/composting by 2008
The Landfill Directive (Council Directive, 1999), requires the UK to reduce BMW to 75% of that produced in 1995; further reduced to 50% by 2013 and 35% by 2020.
1.3 Aims and objectives of research project
The principal aim of this project was to evaluate the performance and cost-effectiveness of seven multi-occupancy pilot recycling schemes that are being carried out across Scotland.
This encompassed the following objectives.
1. Review and evaluate pilot scheme proposals submitted by each local authority.
2. Development of a methodology for assessing the performance of the pilot schemes.
3. Collation and analysis of performance data.
4. Liaison with the Scottish Waste Awareness Group ( SWAG) regarding public opinion surveys and campaigns to be carried out in each pilot scheme area.
5. Evaluation and comparison of each pilot scheme against a set of performance indicators.
6. Undertake a cost effectiveness analysis of rolling out each scheme on a large scale.
The project commenced in February 2005, with the final report being submitted in March 2005.
1.4 Existing research
A review was carried out of existing available information on recycling schemes for multi-occupancy properties in the UK and other countries. This review is summarised below.
1.4.1 Schemes in Scotland
A research project undertaken in 2002 by SISTech distributed a questionnaire to 800 multi occupancy householders in Edinburgh to assess attitudes to different methods of recyclate collection ( SISTech, 2002). The majority of respondents selected a preference for an option where recyclate would be collected in separate wheelie bins.
A small-scale pilot was undertaken by LEEP in 2003/04 ( LEEP, 2004). This piloted the use of a doorstep recyclate collection to 22 householders in tenements in Edinburgh. The total amount of recyclate collected was equivalent to 90 kg/hh/yr. It was estimated that this was equivalent to a 16% landfill diversion rate.
In 2004, Falkirk Council commenced a small-scale pilot of doorstep recyclate collection to 1,084 householders in high-rise blocks. Weekly collection data from this scheme shows that during the first 12 months of operation an average of 103 kg of recyclate was collected per household 1.
1.4.2 Schemes in the rest of the UK
A report commissioned by Defra provides a number of case studies of multi-occupancy recycling schemes in 16 local authorities in England (Defra, 2004). Ten of these local authorities are based in London, the remainder are based in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Lewes, Manchester, and Newcastle. A further three case studies are provided from Germany, Italy and France. The information for these case studies was collected via structured interviews. The case studies provide information on the type of recycling system employed, number of households served, and the service delivery mechanism. The study provides very little data on the amount of recyclates collected or the cost effectiveness of the schemes. Table 1-1 summarises the recyclate collection methods included in the study.
Table 1-1 Recyclate collection methods included in the Defra study
Recyclate Collection Method | Description in Defra Report | Number of Case Studies |
|---|
Central Collection Facilities | Recycling containers located at central collection points on land forming part of the housing development | 13 |
|---|
Near-entrance collection facilities | Recycling containers located close to the entrance, inside or outside, of individual blocks of flats, or in the basement or refuse area | 10 |
|---|
Kerbside collection | Collection of materials from individual households where residents take recyclable materials in a container to the kerb or perimeter of the property | 13 |
|---|
Door-to-door collection | Collection of materials from individual households within blocks of flats where residents place materials at their front door | 4 |
|---|
The number of households served by most of the schemes ranged between 2,000 - 30,000. The report provides quantitative data on the amount of recyclate collected for two schemes as follows:
- Newcastle upon Tyne (near-entrance): 40 kg/hh/yr
- London Borough of Tower Hamlets (door-to-door collection): 67kg/hh/yr
1.1.3 Schemes in Europe
Both the Defra and SISTech studies highlight a number of examples of schemes in cities in Europe, including Paris, Berlin, Graz (Austria) and Cinisello Balsamo (Italy). All of these cities have a high percentage of multi-occupancy properties (up to 90%). In most cases these cities made use of either recycling centres/points or near-entrance collection facilities. In some cases, such as Cinisello Balsamo, food and garden waste were also collected in addition to dry recyclates.
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