The kerbside analysis tool, known as 'KAT', is a computerised spread-sheet programme that has been developed by consultancy Eco Alternatives in partnership with Waste Watch. It allows councils to enter specific information about a kerbside scheme and then calculates the cost when a number of combinations of variables are put together.
The software is to be distributed by Waste Watch free to all local authorities next month.
The software can generate results with only a minimal amount of information, but the more information inputted, the more accurate the results. There are hundreds of variables that can be filled in, including the number of houses; the number of vehicles; percentage of houses provided with each type of collection box; collection frequency; the number of workers in the collection crew and the distance travelled by each vehicle.
The information put into the computerised spread-sheet programme can be based around locally specific data. Or alternatively, on average values that Eco Alternatives have derived from their studies with a wide range of kerbside collections, which are already in the system.
Julia Hummel, Director of Eco Alternatives, said that although eight years of research has been used to reach average costs of how much a local authority spends on different elements of their kerbside collection, the system is not rigid. “The user can override anything already in the system, so if they look at some data and realise that the cost of something in their area is much higher or lower than the average, they can change it for their purposes,” she explained.
“However, there are some variables for which local authorities don't often have figures, such as loading times. So I watched a huge number of videos of vehicles being loaded to derive an average,” she added.
Waste Watch
The KAT is due to be made freely available to all local authorities next month on the Waste Watch website. The software's trial with 12 local authorities has received some support from WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme.
“There are still plenty of local authorities around the UK implementing schemes so KAT should help them,” said Andy Doran, chair of LARAC, the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee.
“The authorities haven't got the money to try out various schemes so the KAT would be useful. And of course there's nothing to stop council's re-evaluating the systems they've currently got in place,” he added.
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