ELWA manages waste disposal for 425,000 households across the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Havering, and Redbridge, and operates four HWRCs with its waste contractor Renewi.
The booking system has been launched in partnership with Bookinglab and will be applied only to vans, trailers and large cars modified to allow for greater load bearing.
To achieve this, ELWA will use the system to govern a new set of rules and limits. These include:
- A limit of 2 bookings per month per household
- A limit of 12 bookings per year per household
- A limit of 2 DIY waste bookings per year per household
- The need to provide a valid postcode before booking (also checked on arrival)
- The need to state if any restricted or commercial waste will be disposed of
- The need to state if hire vehicles are being used and present hire agreements
‘Taxpayer savings’
Neil Greenhalgh, head of waste and support services at ELWA, said: “In introducing a booking system for vans and trailers, we anticipate that we will see a reduction in the tipping of undeclared commercial waste, providing a saving to the taxpayer.
“We also envision that there will be fewer queues as we can spread traffic out across the day. We will keep the system under review, and Bookinglab’s flexibility allows us to make any necessary adjustments.”
Fair use
As part of the booking system, a fair usage policy has been devised, which will be governed by automated rules and limits configured within the booking system. These rules will restrict the frequency that vehicles can access sites and specify which types of waste can be tipped.
The new booking system, which applies to vans and trailers, would set a limit of 2 visits per year with DIY waste (to be included in the overall 12 visit limit).
Residents currently deposit over 30,000 tonnes of unsorted waste per year across the four recycling Centres located within the region. However, with the booking system, ELWA believes these numbers will be reduced. This is down to site staff having the capacity to assist residents with correctly disposing of waste rather than having to manage traffic flows, access and compliance.
Efficiency
Chad Duggan, managing director of Bookinglab, added: “We’re delighted to be working with East London Waste Authority to increase the efficiency of Household Waste Recycling Centres across Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, and Redbridge.
“This solution is another excellent example of how booking technology can simplify the implementation and management of strategic waste initiatives.
“With the custom rules, limits and workflows configured within the system, ELWA will have all the tools they need to increase site efficiency and deliver a better tipping experience.”
Tonnages
ELWA will now closely monitor tonnages, vehicle numbers, booking data, and customer satisfaction surveys to assess the effectiveness of the new policies with regular reviews to ensure they remain effective, fair, and equitable.
The authority also anticipates that bookings will be integrated with on-site ANPR cameras in the coming months.
Subscribe for free