The Audit Commission's best value service gave Gateshead's combined refuse collection and disposal service “two stars” which is the best rating ever given to a refuse collection and disposal service in the country.
Councillor Gordon Spring, cabinet member for the local environment said: “The excellent “Two Star” award is down to the hard work and efforts of everyone in Gateshead Council's local environmental services team. From the front-line refuse collectors, to the support staff right across the borough, there is a genuine pride in the efficiency and work-rate of the service. Almost 200,000 local residents are getting an excellent refuse collection service from Gateshead Council, and we are committed to making that service even better, over the coming months and years.”
But although the refuse service performed well, only a small proportion of waste is currently recycled. The council recycled around 7% of its household waste in 1999/2000 but changes in calculating the recycling rate have effectively reduced this to 3%. And with government recycling targets set at 10% for 2003 and 18% for 2005, the council has a long way to go.
Gateshead's recycling service currently consists of two waste and recycling centres and a network of 31 bring sites across the borough where residents can recycle a wide range of materials, including electrical goods. 85% of residents live within one kilometre of a recycling site.
Although the inspectors found that the council had a “good network” of bring sites, they concluded: “Recycling is the area where the service performs less well. Although it ranks as second amongst the five Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Councils on the percentage of waste recycled, its performance is below average against national comparisons. The council does not have a kerbside collection of recyclable materials, nor any central composting facilities.”
Public satisfaction with recycling facilities is around 60%, which is lower than other services and declining. Satisfaction with waste and recycling centres is also low.
The inspectors said that the council now needs to implement its improvement plan which complements the longer term waste management strategy. The plan addresses the areas needing improvement and includes a plan to start a kerbside collection scheme and bulk composting of green waste as well as measures to improve the waste and recycling centre.
The Audit Commission concluded that to make sure these new measures work, the council needs to ensure that it has an education programme which highlights the benefits of waste minimisation and recycling. “Education is key to the success of service improvements in the future. The council should ensure it produces a cohesive strategy and programme of activity to explain to all sections of the public, including commercial users, why it is important to minimise waste and recycle waste materials. The strategy should be monitored and evaluated regularly.”
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