Waste Partnership apologises and insist they've learnt their lesson

As reported, thousands of residents complained of mix-ups with bin deliveries, missed collections and old bin pick-ups after ‘Tranche 4’ was launched last month.

There were calls for an ‘urgent review’ into the situation and Cllr Mike Byatt, who represents Weymouth at county council level, put forward a motion to that effect.

The Echo was invited to sit down with DWP director Steve Burdis and Councillor Anthony Alford, chairman of the DWP joint committee. They told us how:

• They are sorry for problems experienced by some residents in Weymouth and Portland;
• They welcome the review as it will help them ‘do better’ in future;
• They expect Dorset’s recycling rates to be up to around 67 percent once the implementation is complete – one of the highest in the country;
• The Dorset Waste partnership is the first system of its kind in the UK and the county will one day have its own recycling facility so it can sell on materials and save the taxpayer.

“I have to apologise to those residents who have complained,” said Mr Burdis.

“There has been a mixture of complaints and compliments.

“And if you look in the comments on the Echo website you see there is a mix.

“However, it would be far too easy to look at compliments and not complaints.

“But please rest assured we are doing everything we can to resolve issues.”

He said the number of properties in the Weymouth and Portland roll-out, or ‘Tranche 4’ was 50,000 – the biggest attempted in one sweep.

But, Mr Burdis conceded that it might be difficult to keep that in mind when you are the person having to report issues.

“When you go back to the individual impact, that’s not how they (the resident) thinks.

“If you are impacted by something like this, it can feel very personal.

“It would be quite easy for me to eulogise all day about the Dorset Waste Partnership and how positive it is.

“But I have to accept while we are still in Tranche 4 that will sound like hollow words to some residents.

“That’s why I apologise. I am a resident of Dorset as well and I would feel the same if I was in that situation.”

There have been fears that less, not more, will be recycled in the ‘confusion’ of the new bins.

Figures just released by the government show that recycling rates in England have stalled, with a national average of 44 percent.

This is just 0.1 percent up on the previous year.

But DWP says it is already seeing an unprecedented rise in recycling rates in areas where the scheme has been implemented.

“My prediction is that once we complete the roll-out next year, our target will be about 67 percent for recycling,” said Cllr Alford.

“And that would be at the very top level of all authorities in the country. We want to be at that top level.

“To see the rate in West Dorset go from 35 to 36 percent to 67 percent; that would be transformational in terms of what we are offering to the public.”

The amount of waste recycled by different authorities across the country varies from 18 to 66 percent. If Dorset could achieve its aim, it would be leading in the polls.

Previously, there were 12 different systems of waste collection in Dorset – and three in one town alone. Once all tranches are complete next July, every household will be working from the same system.

But taking waste to landfill is at an ‘escalating cost’.

“There has been an escalating cost for waste management – to take a tonne to landfill is about £110; tax is £80 going up by £8 per year,” said Mr Burdis.

“Three years ago it was £56.

“Although the £8 rise has now stopped, the tax is likely to go up to £82.60 next year – so it’s still rising.

“It’s been a massively escalating cost to the partners (councils involved in DWP) and residents.”

DWP says it is making an ‘invest to save’. Dumping refuse comes at a cost, whereas money can be made from recycling.

“Recycling has a value,” said Mr Burdis.

“At the moment, because of the way things are set up, we are not getting that value – but this will change.”

In partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council, DWP has received £14.2m from the Department for Communities and Local Government to build a joint materials recycling facility (MRF), which would be used to sort recycling from both partners. It is scheduled to open in 2016.

This means that Dorset can process its own recycling materials without having to shell out to send them elsewhere and sell on the product, reducing cost of waste disposal.

“We have taken that money and invested it in a new system.

“We are three-and-a-half years in to a five-and-a-half-year programme of massive transformational invest-to-save Dorset to change waste management and what we do,” said Mr Burdis.

The Echo revealed last month how DWP had no control over the company delivering its new bins.

It had allowed the bin manufacturer to sub-contract out the work. This time it chose a different company than previous tranches.

Mr Burdis assured that DWP will ‘sit down with contractors to see what has worked, what hasn’t and what improvements can be made for next time’.

Disabled man slams waste collection service

A RESIDENT says DWP has ‘no consideration’ for disabled people following an argument over assisted collection.

As reported in the Echo, Guy Poingdestre wants his waste to be collected from the back of his home in Abbotsbury Road.

But DWP says the ‘low, narrow’ walkway is unsafe for refuse workers. They want to collect the waste from the front of the property.

Disabled Mr Poingdestre says he has to drag it through the house and fears an accident.

But in a letter seen by the Echo, Steve Burdis says after visiting Mr Poingdestre, DWP has decided waste will have to be collected from the front of his home.

He goes on to say: ‘DWP cannot accept responsibility for residents’ handling of waste within their own home’ and it is ‘a matter for Social Care and Health and not the collection authority [if an accident is feared]’.

After receiving the letter, Mr Poingdestre said: “I have to drag a 56-litre bag of rubbish from the kitchen to the front of the house and have nearly fallen twice.

“How can this be assisted collection when no consideration for the service user is given?

“If I have a problem with this I should see social care and health – is this right and fair?”

Concerns over finances

PARTNER councils have until December 16 to give their response to the draft revenue estimate for DWP 2015/16.

Members of the DWP Joint Committee ‘expressed concern’ about its finances and heard it is ‘unlikely’ partners will fund anything more than the predicted overspend of around £1m.

As reported in the Echo, Cllr Mike Byatt – who represents Weymouth on the county council – is calling for an ‘urgent review’ into DWP’s finances.

He was told at full council this would happen.

Speaking in Cllr Flower’s place at Cabinet last week, Cllr Robert Gould said finances would be the focus of the next Joint Committee on December 16 “Action is in place to make sure these things are dealt with as soon as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, councillors on Portland have said they need to have ‘some sort of voice’ to air their dissatisfaction with the scheme.

Cllr Ray Nowak said at a meeting earlier this week: “We have bins all over the place and mess like it’s never been before.

“It’s a complete and utter disaster and we need to frame a letter. We should write a letter saying we are very concerned about the state of service currently and we hope they will do a much better job in the future.”

Cllr Andy Matthews revealed the DWP had failed to honour a commitment to return to the island and address residents’ concerns after the implementation of the new service.

Councillors agreed to send a letter asking for a DWP representative to attend at a future date.

In response, Karyn Punchard, DWP streetscene manager, said: “We have had ongoing correspondence with town and borough councillors on Portland and have resolved their issues.

“We are continually monitoring the situation and will respond to any issues brought to our attention.

“Bins should not be left on the highway between collections.

“We have written to households explaining this and offering to replace their bins with bags and boxes, including seagull-proof bags.

“No staff have been moved from Portland. Staff may be asked to assist with work in other areas once they have completed their rounds.”

• RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on changes to the county’s household recycling centres (HRCs).

The Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) provides 11 HRCs for residents across the county.

In response to financial pressures, the partnership is looking at options to make its service more cost-effective.

The options are:

• Closing one or more HRCs. (Potential savings up to £100,000 a year per site)
• Charging for entry at one or more HRCs instead of closing them. (Potential savings £65,000 a year per site)
• Closing all HRCs for two or three weekdays. (Potential savings up to £300,000 a year)
• Charging residents to dispose of non-household materials, such as DIY waste and tyres. (Potential savings £250,000 a year)
• Charging Dorset residents to use their HRCs in neighbouring areas, which the DWP currently subsidises. (Potential savings £70,000 a year)
  
  The consultation is open until midnight on Friday, February 13, 2015. For more details visit dorsetforyou.com/hrc or pick up a questionnaire at any of the council offices, HRCs or libraries in Dorset.