Agenda item

This report provides information regarding options for the introduction of a domestic battery recycling service along with the recommendation by the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (3rd October 2023).

Note:  Councillor Charmaine Morgan and Nicola McCoy-Brown returned to the Council Chamber.

Purpose of report

This report provided information regarding options for the introduction of a domestic battery recycling service along with the recommendation by the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 3 October 2023.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Noted the report and the outcome and agreed recommendation from the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 3 October 2023:

a) Noting the contents of the report.

b) Recommended that option D - Kerbside Collection -The implementation of akerbside scheme with residents providing their own bags as the most cost efficient and sustainable method’.

2.    Agrees and approves the recommendations by the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee, namely that a kerbside scheme be implemented with residents providing their own bags as the most cost efficient and sustainable method.

Alternative options considered and rejected

a) Status Quo - Continue as currently, with residents using the take back scheme and household waste recycling centres.

No Additional Cost

b) Communications Campaign - Carry out a managed communications campaign promoting the “take back” scheme through social media, the Council’s website and other communication channels to raise the profile and benefits of recycling batteries safely.

Cost - up to £5,000 depending on the type, timescale and extent of campaign.

c) Kerbside Collection - Implement a kerbside scheme with bags provided for residents’ use (supply of 4 bags per annum but has an ongoing cost)

Cost £71,800

d) Kerbside Collection - Implement a kerbside scheme with residents providing their own bags and run alongside a communication campaign. Retrofit Vehicles £8,000, Communication Campaign £5,000

Total Cost £13,000

Summary of Estimated Costs

Reasons for decision

A number of reasons behind the decision were set out in the report, and repeated below:

·       Local Authorities were not required to collect used batteries from households.

·       The collection of batteries showed commitment from the Council for recycling additional items safely.

·       The introduction of a battery recycling scheme would not necessarily eliminate incidents of waste collection vehicle conflagration.

·       The waste freighter fire at Ingoldsby in March 2023, where rubbish from a bin lorry had to be dumped onto the road to be extinguished was the only recorded incident of this type for the Council.

·       There were varying costs for each of the options above which the service would need to absorb.

·       Retailers and distributors had responsibilities if they sold or supplied 32kg or more of portable batteries per year, in terms of providing free collection points for the ‘takeback scheme’.

·       The ‘takeback scheme’ scheme aligned with producer responsibility as identified in the Environment Act – ‘producer pays’.

·       There was a significant number of retailers within walking, cycling and driving distance of residents in South Kesteven who provided containers for the deposit of batteries - Morrisons, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Tesco, Lidl, Co-op along with other independent retailers.

·       Batteries can also be taken to the local Household Waste Recycling Centres.

·       The Introduction of the scheme would show South Kesteven Council’s Commitment to:

o a responsible sustainable recycling management system

o a commitment to protecting the environment.

·       Collection of batteries from households may eliminate any issue for rural communities who may not have any readily available collection points and for those whom travel is difficult.

·       Other authorities have introduced similar schemes e.g. Rushcliffe Borough Council, South Cambridgeshire, Kings Lynn and West Norfolk.

A motion on domestic battery recycling was agreed with a cross-party consensus at the Full Council meeting held on 20 July 2023. A significant rise in the consumption of batteries had been seen, but the safe disposal of these batteries had not necessarily kept pace with this. Improper disposal of batteries posed an environmental hazard and a threat to health and safety due to the potential leakage of harmful chemicals.

The following points were raised during debate:

·       Whilst supermarkets did provide a battery recycling service in store, it was not necessarily through choice. Free collection of used or waste  batteries must be offered if a seller supplied 32kg or more of portable batteries per year.

·       It was hoped that the collection scheme for battery recycling would be in place by March 2024; however advice on its rollout was still being sought from colleagues at the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership.

·       Communications related to the battery recycling scheme would be released in due course, but efforts were currently being concentrated on the issue of twin stream recycling.