2025

RSC1473 - Food waste containers for communal properties – 190525

A member authority is looking to roll out food waste collections to communal properties including high-rise apartments.

They would like to understand from any authority that has collected food waste from communal areas for some time, their experience of which containers they use and their quality/appropriateness, such as:

• Standard two-wheeled 140/240L bins
• 140/240L bins with a bespoke lockable food waste lid aperture, standalone
• A bespoke food waste external ‘housing’ with a standard bin inside
• Any other options

For example, from the point of view of their long-term durability when storing food waste, withstanding collections, risk of pests/corrosion and minimising contamination.

RSC1472 - Street cleansing schedules -140525

A member authority currently reviewing their street cleansing schedules and would like to understand how other local authorities define their schedules for small mechanical sweepers, manual sweeping, litter picking, and weed removal. Specifically, they are interested in learning about the methods you use to organise and manage these tasks.

• Zoning Methods: Do you use specific zones to organise street cleansing? If so, how are these zones defined and managed?

• Ward-Based Scheduling: Are your street cleansing schedules defined by wards? How does this approach impact the efficiency and effectiveness of your operations?

• High Footfall Areas: Do you prioritise areas with high footfall for more frequent cleansing? How do you identify and manage these areas?

• Manual Sweeping and Weed Removal: How do you incorporate manual sweeping and weed removal into your schedules? Are these tasks handled differently compared to mechanical sweeping and litter picking?

RSC1471 - Glass Waste collection introduction and impact on sickness rates – 010525

A member authority is looking at rolling out a separate glass kerbside recycling scheme and would like to understand the type of collection used and any impact on operatives.

They would like to know the following from any authorities that currently collect glass separately to other recycling (i.e. not commingled):

1. Method and frequency of collection (boxes/bins, their size, for households and communal properties)
2. How many refuse staff sickness absence days on average per FTE in the year prior to kerbside glass service introduction.
3. How many refuse staff sickness absence days on average per FTE in year following kerbside glass service introduction, and broadly the nature of these if applicable.

RSC1470 - Risk assessments for RCV fires – 250425

A member authority is requesting for any copies of a risk assessment for when waste / refuse contained in a rolling collection vehicle (bin lorry) catches fire.

RSC1469 - Weighbridge software system - 220425

A member authority is looking to procure a weighbridge software system that records all waste transactions, including commercial waste, from vehicles weighing in/out over the weighbridge.

The authority would therefore welcome any recommendations of or any feedback from other authorities that have a similar weighbridge software system in place.

RSC1468 - Booking Systems at Community Waste Centres? – 090425

This Local Authority is seeking to find more information on booking systems for community waste centres, to gain insight into this they would appreciate the response to the following question:

1. Does the local authority have a booking system for waste recycling and waste disposal at community waste centres?

2. Is this system for commercial waste only, domestic only or both?

3. Has any council changed its system from ‘one type’ (commercial or domestic) to ‘both types’ and what has been the result of this; has any council changed from ‘both types’ to ‘one type’ – and what has been the result of this?

RSC1467 - Standard Minute Values (SMV’s): street cleansing and grounds maintenance services - 01/04/2025

A member authority is looking for any Standard Minute Values (SMV’s) for both street cleansing and grounds maintenance services ,that can be utilised to evaluate and create new round schedules in line with the EPA code of practice.

They would be interested in hearing from other authorities the Standard Minute Values (SMV’s) you use for your street cleansing and grounds maintenance services.

RSC1466 - Commercial customers bin hire charge - 080425

This local authority is looking to change their price structure, they currently charge commercial customers for the purchase of bins but are now looking to move away from this and start to charge a hire cost for bins instead.

They would therefore like to ask other member authorities if they charge a hire cost for bins and if so, how much is the charge?

RSC1465 - Graffiti Removal – 250325

A member authority currently uses high power washing which is only effective on certain materials or can leave a ghosting effect on sandstone walls etc. Painting over walls and fences can resolve issues but it doesn’t look great.

They would like to hear from other authorities who use using or have trialled and alternative methods of graffiti removal, such as laser technology and any successful methods for removing graffiti from sandstone or similar porous materials.

RSC1464 - Trade waste service HWRC/transfer stations – 240325

A member authority is currently reviwing their HWRC/transfer stations.

They would be interested in hearing from authorities that have HWRC/transfer stations, what tonnages you normally receive per annum and what charges are made.

RSC1463 - Chargeable Garden Waste service & increase in fly-tipping – 200325

A member authority would like to hear from other authorities who have introduced a chargeable garden waste service. Have you found a correlation between the introduction of a chargeable garden waste service and an increase in fly-tipping reports? If so, please can you explain how much of an increase you incurred that could be directly linked to implementing chargeable garden waste.

RSC1462 - Enforcement for litter from moving vehicles – 170325

A member authority is working on a new anti-littering campaign. They would like to host a portal to allow people to easily upload dashcam footage of littering from vehicles. They can then take enforcement action against the registered keeper of the vehicle and promote this to raise awareness of their anti-littering messages.

Do you have a portal, or use a social media platform to allow members of the public to upload dashcam footage of littering from vehicle offences, clearly showing the vehicle registration plate?

They would be interested in hearing from any other councils that do this, or that use a social media platform for this purpose, and the GDPR implications that they may have already addressed.They would love to talk to you about how this works and any Information Governance issues that you had to address.

RSC1461 - Lithium ion batteries collection – 120325

A member authority would like to hear from other authorities in relation to lithium ion batteries collection. Do you collect lithium ion batteries?

If you don’t why not? And for those that do, how do you transport them ?

RSC1460 - IT solutions for Street Sweeping and Grounds maintenance – 100325

A member authority is reviewing the use of IT solutions to manage its Street Sweeping and Grounds maintenance service. They would be interested in hearing from other councils who have followed this route and are willing to share their experiences.

RSC1459 - Feedback for bulky waste/special collection – 280225

A member authority is reviewing feedback it gets back after arranging bulky waste/special collection for customers. Do you send follow up emails to customers to ask them to rate the service received?

If so, what questions do you ask and how do you collate the responses? If not, do you ask for feedback via any other methods such as in writing via the post or via telephone?

RSC1458 - Road sweeping on wet roads  - 260225

Due to wet weather conditions, there is a lot of excess water on the public highway. When mechanical road sweepers are cleansing adopted highways, this water is mixing in with the silt/mud/debris.

Their operatives drain off as much access water as possible on site. Unfortunately, the silt/mud/debris that is collected is still very wet and sloppy. This is then tipped off at their depot waste transfer site. The waste is then taken away to a private land fill site. They have been told their load are very wet and are unable to stockpile with future loads being rejected.

They would like to hear from other authorities who have had the same problems and how you have dealt with/ rectified the issue.

RSC1457 - Fly tipping removal processes and procedures – 030325

A local authority is currently reviewing its fly tipping removal policies and procedures, they would be grateful if other member authorities would be willing to share their policies and procedures on this matter.

RSC1456 - Persistent organic pollutants (POPS) and Community skips – 070225

A member authority currently advertise and distribute free community skips across the Borough. This means members of the public who do not have cars or cannot afford the bulky item collection service are able to dispose of their waste for free, they believe this reduces fly tipping in the area. These skips are unmanned, so they drop them off in the morning and pick them back up in the afternoon.

However, with the introduction of the POPS regulations, they are struggling to decide how they can still provide these skips whilst separating the POPS items. They are wondering if other authorities have experienced this issue and if so, how you split up your community skips?

RSC1455 - Staff working patterns – 040225

A member authority is looking into the possibility of changing their teams’ working patterns to 4 days on - 4 days off pattern. They think there may be some efficiencies to be made but would like to hear from other authorities who currently run a day on 4 days off pattern or changed from a different system.

They would like to know

• What prompted the change to 4 on - 4 off? Was it for efficiencies or were there other issues that you were trying to resolve?

• Before the 4 on 4 off scheme started did you just work Monday - Friday with some weekend cover as most councils seem to?

• How did the team react to the change?

• How did the public react?

• Was it compulsory to change to 4 on 4 off and was there a consultation period?

• How long ago did you start working 4 on 4 off?

• Is there anything you would do differently?

RSC1454 - Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) – 140225

This local authority would like to ask others if they are willing to share what they intend to spend the money received from the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on.

RSC1453 - Communication tools and channels – 030125

A member authority is reviewing their communication tools and channels, they would like to hear from authorities who have created tailored communication tools for deaf and blind groups when going through waste collection service changes. This could include engagement or specific equipment.