LETCHWORTH: New compaction equipment has significantly reduced the number of HGVs needed to move-on materials from the county's network of recycling centres, including the site on Blackhorse Road.

Typically when residents visit the centres they throw materials such as green waste, cardboard, wood and rubbish into large containers - including Letchworth dump.

And when those containers are full, they are taken away by gas-guzzling HGVs.

However, new compaction equipment has been installed at nine of the county council's 16 recycling centres.

And that – according to data presented to the latest meeting to the county council's environment cabinet panel – has reduced the number of times they have to be emptied AND the number of HGV journeys.

In July and August alone data shows that the compaction meant containers had to be moved 477 fewer times, than the same period in 2019/20.

And additional measures by staff across al 16 recycling centres reduced that further – leading to an overall reduction in container movements of 579

That, in turn, reduced the number of times centres have to be closed for containers to be 'exchanged.

And over the two-month period, says the report, it reduced HGV mileage associated with the centres by 15,100.

The data was presented to the cabinet panel on Tuesday (November 9) as part of a review of the past 12 months, after the running of recycling centres was brought back 'in-house'.

Until then, contractors Amey had run the centres – but they told the council they were losing £1.2m a year on the contract and formally asked to walk away.

Councillors were told that service improvements had been made over the past year, with more to follow.

But they heard that some challenges had been 'compounded' by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillors were told that the number of staff employed for the recycling centres had increased, from 63 to 83 – with a further six vacancies to fill.

And the number of staff running the re-use centres has increased from the equivalent of 2.2 full-time members of staff to five.

Training courses, says the report to the cabinet panel, have been delivered to staff, 'welfare facilities' are being replaced and there has been a 'spike in the recycling efficiency of the service'.

Investment is also being made in body-worn video cameras at all sites. And there is 'QueueCam' to help residents plan when to visit.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that there are plans to pilot a commercial waste scheme by the end of 2021 for smaller businesses.

"A commercial waste acceptance service trial is planned to be implemented before the end of 2021," says the report.

"Businesses using the service will be able to fulfil their Duty of Care obligations by booking a convenient time slot to dispose of their commercial or industrial waste (limitations will apply).

"Furthermore, residents presenting waste types in excess of the approved concessionary limits will be provided with an additional option to use this chargeable route to competitively dispose of their excess household DIY wastes."

By the end of the year, there are plans for compaction equipment at the recycling centres to run on more sustainable 'hydrogentaed vegetable oil' – which will cut emissions by an estimated 95 per cent.

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