Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options 1 Bulky Waste Collection Options This section outlines a number of different scenarios for improving reuse and recycling of bulky waste, either via household collections or at Household Waste & Recycling Centres (HWRCs). In many cases, the availability of scenarios will depend on working either directly or indirectly with existing reuse specialists such as local furniture reuse organisations (FROs). Some of the scenarios put forward in this section may require investment in the development of new infrastructure, such as refurbishment workshops and reuse sales sheds at HWRCs. When planning any waste management service, there is an opportunity to consider: the fit with the wider strategic objectives of the local authority, including any wider environmental, social and economic objectives (See Rationale section on the main webpage); to the opportunity increase resource efficiency, by moving up the waste management hierarchy (See Rationale section on the main webpage); providing an easy-to-use and reliable service for residents; achieving value for money – the service needs to be efficient and effective; complying with legislation (See Legislation section on main webpage); the availability of alternative services in the commercial or voluntary sector; markets for the items, including working with other teams within the local authority such as social services and housing; and developing and using excellent communications (See Communications section on the main webpage). Key Considerations The level and type of service available to householders can influence their willingness to use a reuse service and a good service can change attitudes about disposal and encourage reuse. Defra commissioned research suggested that householders dislike 1 ; having to wait a long time for a collection, often people „want rid of things‟ as soon as they have a replacement item (this also can impact on the quality of the item if it is left outside prior to collection); being charged for the service – free collections seem to be an incentive to use the service; having to contact different organisations to collect different items; receiving mixed messages about what is and is not acceptable for reuse by different organisations; and receiving “knockbacks” when items they offer for donation are not accepted. When selecting the most appropriate service options there are a number of points to consider: planning a service to maximise reuse over recycling and disposal; 1 Public Understanding of Product Lifetimes and Durability (2): Reuse of Bulky Items (2011)
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Bulky Waste Collection Options - WRAP · Scenario 2 - potentially reusable items identified by the call centre are allocated to a separate reuse collection. In this case only items
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Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
1
Bulky Waste Collection Options This section outlines a number of different scenarios for improving reuse and recycling of bulky waste,
either via household collections or at Household Waste & Recycling Centres (HWRCs). In many cases,
the availability of scenarios will depend on working either directly or indirectly with existing reuse
specialists such as local furniture reuse organisations (FROs). Some of the scenarios put forward in
this section may require investment in the development of new infrastructure, such as refurbishment
workshops and reuse sales sheds at HWRCs.
When planning any waste management service, there is an opportunity to consider:
the fit with the wider strategic objectives of the local authority, including any wider environmental,
social and economic objectives (See Rationale section on the main webpage);
to the opportunity increase resource efficiency, by moving up the waste management hierarchy
(See Rationale section on the main webpage);
providing an easy-to-use and reliable service for residents;
achieving value for money – the service needs to be efficient and effective;
complying with legislation (See Legislation section on main webpage);
the availability of alternative services in the commercial or voluntary sector;
markets for the items, including working with other teams within the local authority such as social
services and housing; and
developing and using excellent communications (See Communications section on the main
webpage).
Key Considerations The level and type of service available to householders can influence their willingness to use a reuse
service and a good service can change attitudes about disposal and encourage reuse. Defra
commissioned research suggested that householders dislike1;
having to wait a long time for a collection, often people „want rid of things‟ as soon as they have a
replacement item (this also can impact on the quality of the item if it is left outside prior to
collection);
being charged for the service – free collections seem to be an incentive to use the service;
having to contact different organisations to collect different items;
receiving mixed messages about what is and is not acceptable for reuse by different organisations;
and
receiving “knockbacks” when items they offer for donation are not accepted.
When selecting the most appropriate service options there are a number of points to consider:
planning a service to maximise reuse over recycling and disposal;
1 Public Understanding of Product Lifetimes and Durability (2): Reuse of Bulky Items (2011)
Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
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can other potential benefits, such as social and economic, be maximised? Working with third sector
organisations often has benefits to the local community;
can other local authority departments be involved in the design of the service and selection of
partners? Are there joint funding opportunities that could help to deliver more socially beneficial
options?
should the collection service be charged or delivered free of charge?
level of service expected by householders;
what format communications are going to take and what messages require communicating. If the
service is complicated it will be more challenging to explain to customers. For more information see
the section on Communications;
the risk of customer dissatisfaction e.g. if items are not collected; and
the service needs to complement other options for encouraging reuse of bulky items - such as the
HWRC, or online options such as Freecycle or eBay.
Collection scenarios
There are a number of collection scenarios, which can, over time, be considered as steps to building
the capacity to improve reuse and recycling rates. In some cases reuse specialists do not need to
collect the items; another contractor can do this and pass the items on to reuse specialists. Five core
scenarios are outlined below and are later used in the Costs section. They comprise:
1. All bulky items collected by reuse and recycling specialist. This option provides the
householder with one point of contact and all items are collected at one time
2. Reusable items collected by reuse specialist. From the householder perspective the service
needs to be convenient, the information provided at the call centre needs to be clear, so items
are not rejected at collection and information on who benefits is important.
3. Items collected separately by different specialists, e.g. WEEE for recycling; furniture and other
non-WEEE items for reuse; and non-reusable items or recyclable waste. From a householder
perspective, in the case of WEEE, Defra research has shown that confidence in the collector‟s
ability to handle WEEE in the “proper way” is important.
4. Reusable items collected via main bulky waste service and set aside for reuse specialist. This
is convenient from the householder‟s perspective but may result in the householder assuming
there is no value in the item and hence no need to preserve the quality, it is therefore
important to communicate that the service reuses items. Those providing the bulky waste
service would need training and appropriate vehicles to ensure that reusable items are not
damaged on collection.
5. Informal referral to FRO or other reuse specialist. This can appear as inconvenient if the
householder has to make another phone call to arrange a collection and in some cases having
made the “effort” to call the item is then considered unacceptable for reuse.
Each scenario has a different performance outcome based on estimated diversion towards reuse and
recycling. This estimated diversion is based on being able to collect the quantity and quality of items
Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
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at all stages in the collection service. They are listed below in Figure 1 in order of best potential for
reuse, from left to right.
Figure 1 Collection scenarios
Not all scenarios will be immediately available to a local authority, and it may require a series of steps
to get from current practice to the ideal reuse scenario. The key to maximising reuse is to keep
potentially reusable items in the best possible condition from the householder‟s initial call through to
collection and by providing a service that householders want to use. It requires clear instructions and
communications from the call centre, good service provision and careful handling of items thereafter.
The following tables provide a view of what, in theory, could potentially be recovered for reuse
through different collection scenarios. It is based on survey observations undertaken by Resource
Futures in York and North Yorkshire. Carrying out an assessment of the local bulky waste collection
stream should provide more robust data.
The potential diversion of items can be categorised as follows:
A. Reusable in current condition;
B. Reusable after minor repair;
C. Reusable after major repair; or
Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
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D. Not repairable but recyclable.
Table 1 below illustrates the potential for reuse and recycling for each of six bulky waste collection
scenarios. Each scenario is built on a set of assumptions.
Scenario 1 - fully geared to reuse the optimum amount of the whole bulky waste stream, with all
items reusable in current condition or with minor repairs, and all the remaining recyclable items
diverted for recycling.
Scenario 2 - potentially reusable items identified by the call centre are allocated to a separate
reuse collection. In this case only items identified as reusable in current condition.
Scenario 3 - the bulky waste is divided between three streams, with all WEEE being collected
separately for recycling, and the remaining items identified as reusable in current condition being
collected by reuse specialists, and the rest being collected for recycling/disposal.
Scenario 4 - potentially reusable items are taken from the main bulky waste collection. It assumes
that the collection crews identify potentially reusable items from the main bulky waste collection
and set them aside for reuse specialists. In this case it is assumed that items are not collected
from within properties, and that there would be some loss in potential reusability due to items
exposed to the elements, and possible cross contamination with waste items. (The model is based
on 50% of potential capture through this system).
Scenario 5 - call centre provides information on reuse alternatives to bulky waste collection, but
council has no formal links beyond initial reference. It is likely that reuse potential would be lost
through this scenario because it is a less convenient service. (The model is based on 40% of
potential capture through this system).
Table 1 Potential reuse and recycling from individual bulky waste collection streams
%
Hard furniture
%
Soft furniture
%
Other furnishings
%
General
%
Large WEEE
%
Other WEEE
Collection scenario 1 Reuse 49 30 27 55 73 76
Whole stream Recycle 10 8 1 24 22 10
Dispose 41 62 72 21 5 14
Collection scenario 2 Reuse 27 17 12 39 41 51
Reuse separate Recycle 33 11 2 24 13 5
Dispose 40 72 86 37 46 44
Collection scenario 3 Reuse 27 17 12 40
Separate streams Recycle 82 42
Dispose 73 83 88 60 18 58
Collection scenario 4 Reuse 14 8 6 20 20 26
Reuse set aside Re-cycle 0 0 0 0 66 31
Dispose 86 92 94 80 14 43
Collection scenario 5 Reuse 11 7 5 16 16 20
Referrals Recycle 0 0 0 0 69 34
Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
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Dispose 89 93 95 84 15 46
Table 2 illustrates the potential contribution of bulky waste to reuse and recycling rates. It models the
potential for reuse and recycling under each of the five scenarios, for each of the individual categories
of items, and as a whole. Some items are potentially both reusable and recyclable; therefore
sometimes a high performing reuse scenario will recycle less than other scenarios.
Table 2 Potential impact of bulky waste scenarios on reuse and recycling rates
% Hard
furniture
% Soft/other
furniture
% General
% Large
WEEE
% Other
WEEE
% Total
Collection scenario 1 Reuse 6 13 3 24 4 50
Whole stream Recycle 1 2 1 7 1 12
Dispose 5 30 1 2 1 38
Collection scenario 2 Reuse 3 6 2 14 3 28
Reuse separate Recycle 4 3 1 4 0 13
Dispose 5 35 2 15 2 59
Collection scenario 3 Reuse 3 6 2 0 0 12
Separate stream Recycle 0 0 0 27 2 29
Dispose 9 38 3 6 3 59
Collection scenario 4 Reuse 2 3 1 7 1 14
Reuse set aside Recycle 0 0 0 22 2 23
Dispose 10 41 4 5 2 63
Collection scenario 5 Reuse 1 3 1 5 1 11
Referrals Recycle 0 0 0 23 2 25
Dispose 11 42 4 5 2 64
The potential for reuse is in the order of 50% of the collected bulky waste stream, but this is
dependent on the right infrastructure and systems being in place. This estimate includes items
requiring checks, preparation and repair before being presented for sale. Outputs in all scenarios
depend upon the success of the system, local circumstances, the quality of items discarded and the
market need. Current good practice in the UK demonstrates reuse levels of around 40%, achieved by
„Bulky Matters‟ in Lancaster. The gap can largely be attributed to the current lower reuse rates for
large electrical items, as against the potential.
Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
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Scenario 1 All bulky waste collected by reuse specialist – either under a direct contract or as a subcontractor to a waste management company
Figure 3 Scenario 1 explained
This scenario has the best potential for maximising reuse. It places the whole bulky waste service with
a reuse specialist who would be responsible for the process from beginning to end and offers a simple
and convenient service to the customer.
Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
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If new, the service may need investment in capacity to deploy the appropriate expertise and
resources. Systems will need to be in place to monitor, measure and report on performance.
Figure 4 shows the potential for reuse and recycling from this collection scenario.
Figure 4 Scenario 1, whole stream system
50%
12%
38%
Collection scenario 1 - All bulky waste
Reuse
Recycle
Dispose
Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
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Scenario 2 Reuse stream only collected by reuse specialist
Figure 5 Scenario 2 explained
This method helps avoid cross-contamination between clean and dirty streams, and has potential for
high levels of reuse. It requires trained and knowledgeable staff at the call centre to ensure that items
are allocated to the correct service. It can lead to frustration on the customer‟s part if items are not
considered suitable for reuse – either during the initial telephone conversation or subsequently at the
point of collection. It may also involve more than one vehicle collecting from the same property if
there is a mixture of items for reuse and disposal. If items are being collected for reuse vehicles that
protect them from damage are required, whereas items for disposal can be collected using
compaction vehicles. Figure 6 shows the potential for reuse and recycling from this collection scenario.
Bulky Waste Guidance: Collection Options
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Figure 6 Potential reuse and recycling for a separate reuse system