Speaking at a Birmingham city council Q&A session this month, councillor Lisa Trickett, cabinet member for sustainability, admitted that the split-bodied vehicles had been procured on poor business advice. She added that the whole system required “a fundamental change”.
The 240-litre wheeled bins, which are collected fortnightly, have since 2014 been distributed to over 350,000 properties across the city for commingled dry recyclables and an inset pod for paper and card.
Birmingham meanwhile continues to operate weekly refuse rounds under a grant received under DCLG’s weekly collection scheme, and a controversial opt-in garden waste service.
The council has launched a two-week review into the fiasco, which will assess all recycling collection vehicles and routes in the city.
Strategy
Speaking at the session, Cllr Trickett said that while a number of streets in Birmingham had access to the new vehicles, there were areas where a revised strategy was needed.
She said: “We haven’t got the wagons in areas where recycling is highest. One factor that has concerned me the most is the recycling wagon is too wide to get down our narrow streets. We can only be as good as the business advice we get and unfortunately in procurement of the wagons the narrowness was not taken into effect.”
Cllr Trickett added: “I think this exemplifies some of the problems with the service we feel there’s £3 million of efficiencies to be gained. Let me be clear this isn’t the crew not working, it’s not about residents misbehaving. This is about a whole system that needs fundamental change.
“So bear with us. We are committed over the next three months to finish cracking eggs and at some point we hope we have delivered the omelette everyone is looking for.”
Commenting on the councillor’s comments today, a spokesman for Birmingham city council said that the issue was space for “turning circles” rather than the vehicles themselves being too wide. He added that the ‘business advice’ received had been from officers working for the city council.
The Q&A session, held on January 7, saw members of the public deliver questions to councillors on what changes they would like to see to services in the city.
Refuse
Waste and recycling was a recurring concern among those consulted, with one person asking for how long Birmingham would continue to collect residual waste on a weekly basis.
Responding to the query, Cllr Trickett said: “Under support of the government grant we are committed to keep weekly collections up to 2017. We are working to develop a waste strategy for the city and most importantly prevent waste. We need the service that is tailored for the needs of the area.”
This week the embattled council also received a petition which has amassed 1,200 signatures for the introduction of kerbside food waste collections.
The campaign is being led by Birmingham Friends of the Earth, and follows a public demonstration outside Council House last summer.
Cllr Trickett claims the council is open to suggestions, adding that she would like to see food waste from hospitals “used for composting”.
On a kerbside scheme, she said: “The council is starting with a blank sheet of paper, and needs views and opinions so future plans can reflect what people think is important. Nothing is ruled in or out at present. If any sustainable innovation is technically and financially viable, it is of course something we will pursue with vigour.”
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