"The London Environment Strategy and the policies and
proposals on waste and recycling have been developed following an unprecedented
process of evidence gathering, analysis, stakeholder consultation and dialogue.
Barnet did not respond during the public consultation on the issue of food
waste collection, which was included in the waste policies and proposals. The waste policies represent a trajectory
that is the best environmental and economic solution for the city and at the
borough level. Londoners too expect and deserve a consistency of service
provision across the city. The evidence points to the impacts that food waste
collection has on driving higher rates of recycling across the board I am
concerned about the impact on recycling performance from Barnet’s decision to
stop separate household food collections. I do possess, through the GLA Act,
the backstop power to direct authorities, where I consider it necessary for the
purposes of implementing the municipal waste provisions of the London
Environment Strategy. Moreover, waste
authorities have a duty under that Act to undertake their waste
responsibilities in such a way as to be in general conformity with the
strategy. However, the use of my power of direction is clearly an option of
last resort, once all other avenues have been explored and exhausted.
On the 19th of June, I wrote to the Leader of Barnet
Council expressing my deep concern at their decision and requesting that it is
put on hold. This will enable my officers to now start the process required of
us under the GLA Act. See also answer
to Mayor’s Question 2018/1583".
As is the
way in Barnet, nothing is ever quite as it seems. On 5 June, just four weeks
after the local elections, Barnet Conservatives voted to scrap the separate
brown bin food waste collections on the basis that it would save £300,000 a
year. A minor concession was suggested by Cllr Peter Zinkin that officers
should identify how those residents who wish to continue to recycle their food
waste could do so but with the rider that it should be at no extra cost to the
council.
Both Mr M
& Mr R thought this was a poor and illogical decision and decided to
investigate further.
With
follow up questions to the Director of Street Scene, the basis of the £300,000 saving
was identified as follows:
“There
are 12 front line blue bin and food collection rounds. Each of these round has
one loader dedicated to collecting food waste, and two loaders to collect
recycling. Stopping food collections will mean that 12 loaders will not be need
for this purpose. The mid point cost of a loader including on costs for 2018/19
is £26,906. As such the savings on 12 loaders was calculated to be £322,870.
The increase in disposal costs for food waste being transfer into the brown bin
was £22,300. We are not going to make staff redundant those loaders
who are no longer collecting food waste will instead be used as a pool of staff
to fill in for staff on leave etc. rather than them being replaced by agency
staff. This will reduce the recycling and waste agency spend”.
The key
figure here is the increased disposal cost of food waste incineration which is
quoted as £22,300. Now one thing Barnet Council fail to grasp is that Barnet
Bloggers double check everything.
We had discussions with:
- the company that currently carries out the anaerobic digestion of Barnet’s food waste;
- three other anaerobic digestion companies in North and East London;
- London Energy (the company that runs the waste incinerator); and
- the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) who manage all waste disposal for seven North London Boroughs including Barnet;
and a different
picture emerged.
According
to many sources, food sent to anaerobic digestion has a much lower cost compared
to being sent for incineration. NWLA confirmed what is termed “gate fees”, the
charge for disposing of waste as follows: Waste sent for incineration £89.47
per tonne, food waste sent for anaerobic digestion £31.39 per tonne, a
difference of £58.08 per tonne.
Barnet
currently sends 5,000 tonnes of food waste annually to anaerobic digestion, so
the increased cost of sending food waste for incineration is not £22,300 but in
fact £290,400. On that basis removing brown bin collections will not save
£300,000 per annum, it will instead save £32,470. What is worse is that as the
borough grows and more food waste is incinerated, that modest saving could be
eroded to a point where there is no saving at all.
So coming
back to Cllr Zinkin’s offer, it is possible to recycle everyone’s food waste at
a very modest cost compared to what officers are proposing, just £32,470 or
around 23p per household per year. We think it’s worth it.
Mr
Mustard & Mr Reasonable
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