Banff and Buchan councillors voice strong opposition to HWRC hybrid entry trial
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A report which went before members of the Banff and Buchan area committee today (Tuesday) over a proposed trial of a hybird entry system at two north-east waste sites saw strong feelings voiced by councillors.
At present the system introduced during lockdown to enable sites to be used while maintaining social distancing has seen mixed responses.
A recent survey of over 4000 respondents saw a general support for the system, mostly due to the convenience of time booking, but also dissatisfaction on having to use online systems to do so and the issues being faced by those who could not do this, including a cited example of a wait to do so on the phone measured in hours.
Officers used current useage data and identified six sites which are currently operating at under 60 per cent utilisation, being Banchory 47 per cent, Huntly 43 per cent, Macduff 40 per cent Portlethen 55 per cent, Stonehaven 58 per cent and Turriff 44 per cent and which could potentially be included within a hybrid proposal.
As a result, officers looked at times which were lower in usage and would fit in with operational requirements and it was found that Wednesday afternoons would be appropriate for the opening up of use with Macduff and Stonehaven chosen as the test sites.
Members of the Banff and Buchan Committee were addressed by Clare Loney, waste team manager for disposal who explained the background to the report.
She said; "Members of the infrastructure committee back in January asked for a review of HWRCs on site by site basis - seeking views on a trial to open up access that would go before them in a report in October.
"We are aware that this could cause some issues over communications on the methods of access and the limits to commercial visits will have to remain in place to stop unlawful dumping.
"Booked and non-booked may be turning ip but this is the only way to manage trade waste.
"We are encouraging fewer journeys by car - and it is getting better at people are coming less often but with more waste."
Councillor Doreen Mair highlighted one headline statistic in as much as there has been a drop of waste deposited at sites overall by around 23 per cent.
She commented: "Where has that 23 per cent gone?
"Is it into fly tipping or general waste - I am interested if we are seeing an increase in weight in general waste bins which cost us more to dispose of."
In response, it was noted that there had been an increase in fly tipping in Banff and Buchan with 111 cases in 2019, 186 in 2020 and 232 in 2021 (reported) but it was now back to pre 2020 levels and moving back to 2019 levels.
Officers could not say that people who are not visiting are putting waste in black bins.
It was not possible to account for traders who stopped using sites because they moved to private contractors.
Councillor Richard Meynard raised the issue of website access and said: "A lot of the older generation have to use the phone system to book and are spending long waiting times doing so.
"With the cost of living crisis, more people will be giving up internet and even mobile phones may become to costly, so access booking will be almost impossible."
Councillro John Cox put forward a motion from the committee that access should go back to pre-covid methods and that a trial was not required and instead this should be instigated at the earliest opportunity.
He said: "We are giving a mixed message here, a hybird system is to complicated and will lead to further flytipping at a time when we are obligated to recycle as much as possible."
He was seconded by councillor Stewart Adams who said that even a trail period was not needed and would only "put further bureaucracy in the way."
Councillors comments will be put to members of the ISC in October.
Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid, who hears regularly from concerned residents over the current system, said: “Proposing a trial hybrid system for only partially removing bookings, at only two locations for a whole year, merely to ‘gather data’ will be regarded as too little, too slow, by many of my constituents.
“I appreciate certain sites such as Inverurie has seen benefits from the booking system but in most cases, the time and the need for these have passed - as has been the case with other Covid-related restrictions.
“Rather than restricting people, we should be encouraging as many residents as possible to use these valuable facilities, especially during times like this when refuse collection strikes are taking place.
“As well as the inconvenience to residents, my main concern has been that more recyclable waste is either piling up at people’s houses, going to landfill, or being fly-tipped.
“While I sympathise with the council which has been forced to make savings, these shouldn’t be at the expense of residents who are not able to access the same service as they did before Covid.”
