The advice comes in an online tool issued by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to help councils devise, introduce and operate recycling and food waste collection schemes for flats.
It states: “Traditionally, recycling and food waste collection schemes have been rolled out to flats as a blanket service, with all blocks of flats within a local authority's boundaries receiving the same type of collection scheme.”
“However, blocks of flats vary considerably; from the refuse disposal methods used to the communication opportunities available, meaning that a single type of scheme is unlikely to provide the most effective recycling solution for all blocks of flats,” it continues.
Designed both for councils introducing entirely new collection schemes as well as those looking to improve existing provisions, WRAP claims that the online tool could help councils to improve recycling performance and also to satisfy the demands of residents who want to recycle but live in ‘hard-to-reach' properties.
Problems
Recycling from flats has traditionally proven a difficult issue for local authorities due to spatial problems and the health and safety risks caused by having containers on walkways or blocking fire exits.
WRAP has claimed that the guidance will prove particularly helpful because, under the Household Waste and Recycling Act 2003, councils will be expected to collect at least two materials for recycling from all properties – including flats – from December 2010.
Broken into four sections – strategic planning, operational planning, operation of different collection schemes and implementation of recycling schemes – the guidance is designed to build on work carried out on the topic in 2006 by Defra.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com about the guidance,, Phillip Ward, director of local government services at WRAP, said: “There are all sorts of problems [with flats recycling], such as getting access and fire hazards, and if we are going to use systems there are probably going to be commingled.”
“We think it is important to draw together all the material that has been building up and some schemes have been successful and so some have been drawn together. It is the area we have been having the most difficulty with because flats tend to be built up areas or areas where English is their second language,” he added.
Guidance
The guidance considers issues including the most applicable vehicle and equipment for specific collection methods, such as door-to-door, chute recycling, bring recycling and collection containers on each floor. In addition, the guidance also explains communication techniques that councils can use to ensure residents are aware of the service, drawing upon practical examples from flats recycling across Britain.
WRAP claims that the use of the online service, although requiring a “greater level of management” than rolling out a single scheme, can pay dividends in the long-run and also help simplify roll-outs by allowing councils to take into account all the relevant issues at the design stage.
Register for free to comment