Agenda item

Implementing Rushcliffe Borough Council's Battery Collection Policy in South Kesteven

 

Objective: The objective of this motion is to propose the adoption of Rushcliffe Borough Council's battery collection policy, which involves collection of batteries in a bag left with any domestic waste bin collected by that council,by South Kesteven District Council. By implementing this policy over the next year, we aim to prevent costly refuse vehicle fires, promote responsible battery disposal, and increase recycling rates in our region.

It is proposed the Council:

 

a.    Adopt Rushcliffe Borough Council's battery collection policy as a pilot programme in South Kesteven over the next year.

b.    Provide residents with battery collection bags and clear instructions on how to use them for recycling purposes, emphasising the importance of not overfilling the bags.

c.     Conduct public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to promote the benefits of battery recycling and encourage active participation from residents.

d.    Establish a reporting mechanism to monitor the progress and outcomes of the pilot programme, collecting data on the quantity of batteries recycled, costs saved, and any associated reduction in dust cart fires.

e.    Explore partnerships with recycling facilities or third-party organisations to ensure the proper recycling and disposal of collected batteries.

 

By adopting Rushcliffe Borough Council's successful battery collection policy, South Kesteven District Council will take a significant step towards fostering a sustainable and responsible waste management system that protects the environment, reduces costs, and enhances safety.

Councillor Ben Green proposed the following motion:

 

Implementing Rushcliffe Borough Council's Battery Collection Policy in South Kesteven

 

Objective: The objective of this motion is to propose the adoption of Rushcliffe Borough Council's battery collection policy, which involves collection of batteries in a bag left with any domestic waste bin collected by that council, by South Kesteven District Council. By implementing this policy over the next year, we aim to prevent costly refuse vehicle fires, promote responsible battery disposal, and increase recycling rates in our region.

 

It is proposed the Council:

 

a. Adopt Rushcliffe Borough Council's battery collection policy as a pilot programme in South Kesteven over the next year.

 

b. Provide residents with battery collection bags and clear instructions on how to use them for recycling purposes, emphasising the importance of not overfilling the bags.

 

c. Conduct public awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to promote the benefits of battery recycling and encourage active participation from residents.

 

d. Establish a reporting mechanism to monitor the progress and outcomes of the pilot programme, collecting data on the quantity of batteries recycled, costs saved, and any associated reduction in dust cart fires.   

 

e. Explore partnerships with recycling facilities or third-party organisations to ensure the proper recycling and disposal of collected batteries.

 

By adopting Rushcliffe Borough Council's successful battery collection policy, South Kesteven District Council will take a significant step towards fostering a sustainable and responsible waste management system that protects the environment, reduces costs, and enhances safety.

 

In introducing the motion, Councillor Green referenced a public information campaign on battery disposal that had been attempted with residents and questioned whether this had been successful.

 

Battery disposal could be an issue for rural communities, and those for whom travel was difficult. The Council visited residents’ homes every week to collect their bins, and therefore there was an opportunity to explore whether batteries could be collected at the same time.

 

The motion was duly seconded.

 

The following points were raised during debate:

 

·         Rechargeable batteries could make a better long-term investment rather than using disposable batteries.

·         South Kesteven residents, in a straw poll conducted by one Councillor also favoured clothing and food waste recycling.

·         The scheme would benefit from being costed before being rolled out. The refuse vehicles currently in use were expensive and could not easily be adapted to take batteries.

·         The fire at Ingoldsby Woods had been caused by disposable vapes, rather than batteries. Disposable vapes were not easy to dismantle for disposal. Every year several tonnes of lithium was disposed of by virtue of being contained within vapes.

·         Retailers have a legal requirement to collect batteries. Recycling was important for this precious resource, as the chemicals released by lithium-ion batteries in landfill was dangerous.

·         Aside from costly lorry fires, there were several fires a week at recycling centres due to the inappropriate disposal of batteries.

·         A review of single-use vapes should be considered by the Council, and brought to the attention on central government.

 

An amendment to the substantive motion was proposed by the Leader of the Council:

 

This council notes:

 

·         The safety issues around the disposal of batteries

 

·         The desirability of ensuring that batteries are not placed in mixed recycling bins but recycled separately

 

·         The existing legal requirement for retailers of batteries to provide collection points for the disposal of used batteries (Battery waste: retailer and distributor responsibilities - GOV.UK)

 

·         The battery collection policy of Rushcliffe Borough Council

 

·         That many other councils also have separate battery collection schemes in operation

 

·         That any separate collection organised by the council will come at a cost

 

This council considers this issue to merit further consideration, and thus resolves to:

·        ask officers to investigate and prepare a report giving costed options taking the points noted above into account;

·        request the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee considers this report and recommends options to be considered by Full Council at the November meeting”

 

The amendment was seconded by the Leader of the Opposition.

 

The following comments were made when debating the amendment:

 

·      The costings for the collection of batteries should not only include the costs to adapt lorries but should also include the cost of repairs to the Council’s housing stock, caused by batteries in small toys.

·      The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Environment Overview and Scrutiny were happy to take this issue forward to the most appropriate meeting of their Committee.

 

The proposer and seconder of the original motion accepted the amendment.

 

Upon being put to the vote the substantive motion was AGREED.

 

DECISION:

 

This council notes:

 

·         The safety issues around the disposal of batteries

 

·         The desirability of ensuring that batteries are not placed in mixed recycling bins but recycled separately

 

·         The existing legal requirement for retailers of batteries to provide collection points for the disposal of used batteries (Battery waste: retailer and distributor responsibilities - GOV.UK)

 

·         The battery collection policy of Rushcliffe Borough Council

 

·         That many other councils also have separate battery collection schemes in operation

 

·         That any separate collection organised by the council will come at a cost

 

This council considers this issue to merit further consideration, and thus resolves to:

·         ask officers to investigate and prepare a report giving costed options taking the points noted above into account

 

·         request the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee considers this report and recommends options to be considered by Full Council at the November meeting”.