HWRC Community News - July 2024

Introduction:

In this section, we’ll share the latest news from the bookinglab HWRC community.

The goal here is to inform you of any product updates or community-led initiatives and help you connect with councils tackling common challenges.

The top five news stories from July include:

  1. Kent County Council's My Account feature for HWRC Bookings
  2. West Sussex County Council's new HWRC check-in app 
  3. Our HWRC Resource Hub goes live
  4. We're hosting a community-led HWRC webinar on 05/09/24
  5. We announced our partnership with LARAC

Work begins on Kent County Council's My Account feature for HWRC Bookings.

As part of Kent's commitment to continuous service improvement, they gather user feedback through bi-annual consultation surveys. These surveys allow residents to rate their experiences and suggest ways to enhance the service.

Here's a snapshot of the latest survey data collected by Kent:

The survey data also revealed a strong demand from residents for MyAccount functionality. To address this, we're working with the Kent team to develop a HWRC registration workflow and MyAccount features that will enable:

  1. Residents to avoid re-entering their data for each booking
  2. Easier management of permits and vehicle vouchers
  3. More efficient handling of usage limits and address lookups
  4. Registration of multiple addresses/vehicles to manage waste disposal for dependents
  5. Improved visibility on waste origins

Residents who prefer not to create an account can still book by selecting the 'continue as a guest' feature.
As new functionalities are developed, we'll share more updates on this project, so keep your eyes peeled!

West Sussex County Council has rolled out a new on-site check-in app:

West Sussex County Council (WSCC) is the latest council to implement an updated version of our on-site check-in app.

This new rollout allows site staff to assign an 'observe' flag to a booking and include a reason for this designation. Additionally, within the notes section of the check-in app, staff now have access to a list of standardised policies that can be associated with a specific booking.

These policies are saved under an admin booking question, allowing for straightforward and standardised reporting.

To see the check-in app in action, click here.

Our HWRC Resource Hub goes live:

In response to a surge in requests for business case documents, we've developed a centralised hub where you can find:

These resources are designed to assist local authorities in preparing business cases to evaluate the impacts of implementing HWRC Booking Systems.

We will update this page regularly, so subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest resources.

Check it out here.

We're hosting a community-led webinar:

On September 5th, we'll be joined by recycling and waste management professionals from over 70 HWRCs for a community-led discussion on the financial impacts of HWRC Booking Systems.

We'll have guest speakers from various local authorities, including Wayne Howick and Gareth Rollings (West Sussex County Council).

We'll be sharing more information on the webinar in the coming weeks.

To reserve your place and get the latest updates, click here.

Our partnership with LARAC:

We're thrilled to announce that we're partnering with LARAC.

The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee is the leading voice for local authorities on recycling, waste, and resource management.

As a leading technology supplier to the recycling and waste management sector, we are passionate about supporting LARAC's mission to advance the industry, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and promote good practices within local authorities.

So, keep your eyes peeled for some exciting bookinglab and LARAC collaborations.

HWRC Industry News - July 2024

Introduction:

In this blog, we'll dive into the latest developments and news from the recycling and waste management sector.

Our aim is to keep you informed with in-depth analysis, expert opinions, and detailed updates on innovations, policies, and trends shaping the industry.

The sector reacts to the King's Speech (17th July).

In this article from letsrecycle, reactions from industry leaders highlight mixed feelings about the recent King's Speech. While the speech emphasised investment in green infrastructure and sustainable aviation fuels, it notably omitted specific mentions of waste and recycling reforms. Industry experts, including Biffa's CEO and Suez's Chief Sustainability Officer, expressed concerns about missed opportunities for advancing waste management policies. They stress the need for urgent reforms to achieve a zero-waste economy and effective recycling systems.

You can read the full article here.

Essex to end landfill use by 2030.

Essex County Council has announced an ambitious plan to eliminate landfill usage by 2030. Its aim is to divert 340,000 tonnes of residual waste to energy-from-waste plants and halve residual waste by 2042. This strategy has sparked debate among residents and environmentalists alike. Proponents argue it is a necessary step towards sustainability, while critics worry about the feasibility and potential costs.

You can learn more about the initiative here.

Shortlist revealed for LARAC's 2024 honors.

The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC) has unveiled the shortlist for its 2024 awards, recognising outstanding achievements in local authority recycling efforts. This year's awards feature new categories such as Health and Safety Initiative of the Year and HWRC of the Year. Winners will be announced at the LARAC conference on October 9-10 in Birmingham.

For more details on the finalists and categories, click here.

Public supports EPR and DRS for batteries, says CIWM.

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has proposed a deposit return scheme for batteries to address increasing safety concerns. With the rise of battery-related fires and environmental hazards, this initiative aims to incentivise proper disposal and recycling of batteries and enhance sustainability efforts.

You can read the full article here.

Ukraine war among causes of spiralling HWRC costs.

According to this article, the war in Ukraine has significantly impacted the costs of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in the UK, driving expenses to new heights. The conflict has disrupted supply chains and increased energy prices, affecting the wider waste management sector. This article delves into the various factors contributing to the rising costs and explores the broader implications for the industry.

You can read the full article here.

HWRC Booking System: 600% ROI

Our industry-leading HWRC Booking System generates a 600% ROI across 70+ HWRCs.

On average, across our network of over 70 Household Waste Recycling Centres, we achieve a 600% return on investment. This means that every £1 spent on our system annually generates £6 in cost savings and revenue.

Here are four ways our market-leading HWRC Booking Service has offset some of the sector's financial challenges.

1: By reducing tonnage and stopping misuse.

With custom rules, limits, alerts, workflows, validators, reports, and blocklists, our community can stop or charge for OOB visits, trade, and DIY waste.

Click here to learn how Western Riverside Waste Authority has used our system to save £200,000 a year.

2: By increasing site efficiency.

Thanks to more efficient demand management, increased visibility, and optimised resource allocation, sites have reduced wasted capacity and streamlined operations.

Click here to learn how West Sussex County Council has used our system to save over £200,000 a year.

3: By reducing material segregation costs.

Due to process automation, site staff have more time to help visitors correctly segregate their waste. Improved comms and waste stream visibility also aid this process.

Click here to learn how Kent County Council has used our HWRC Booking System to save over £150,000 a year.

4: By improving data management.

Our reporting suite collects data on usage patterns, types of waste collected, and user demographics. This data optimises site operations, predicts trends, adjusts resource allocation, informs waste prevention strategies, and helps plan future initiatives.

Learn more.

Find out more about the benefits of a HWRC Booking System here.  

Perception vs Reality: HWRC Booking Systems and Fly-Tipping

HWRC Booking Systems and fly-tipping.

HWRC Booking Systems significantly impact waste reduction, helping councils lower waste management costs by controlling the amount of waste brought to their sites.

This is largely due to innovative rules, alerts, and workflows that enable site managers to control usage and restrict or charge out-of-borough residents and traders.

To put this into perspective, West Sussex County Council found that sites with a booking system receive 35% less waste (on average) than those without one.

Similarly, Western Riverside Waste Authority has reported a 760-tonne reduction in waste since implementing bookings.  

The perception.

Based on the above, one question we get asked a lot is “where does all that waste go?”

And one of the most common misconceptions we encounter is the belief that implementing a booking system increases fly-tipping.

With this in mind, we’ve collated research from HWRCs across the country to assess the validity of this assumption.  

So, let’s get into it ...

The reality.

In a recent study, DEFRA analysed data from 54 local authorities and concluded that there was no evidence of a link between booking systems and fly-tipping.

Interestingly, after an in-depth analysis of a subset of these authorities, researchers found that:

You can read the full analysis here.

The LGA also states that they’ve found no evidence proving a connection between HWRC Booking Systems and fly-tipping.

However, they emphasise the importance of a well-designed, purpose-built booking system in delivering a user experience that discourages fly-tipping.

At the council level, Hannah Allard, Insight and Development Manager at Kent County Council, confirms that fly-tipping has not increased in Kent since bookings were implemented.

Instead, Kent attributes its decrease in waste volumes to reduced trade abuse, increased reuse within communities, and greater use of skips.

You can watch Hannah’s keynote on this topic here.

Similarly, Western Riverside Waste Authority, Re3 Waste Partnership, and countless other local authorities report no increase in fly-tipping since introducing booking technology.

In fact, West Sussex County Council has actually seen a decrease in fly-tipping incidents since implementing our GovBook HWRC Booking Service.

Conclusion.

Taking into account all of the above, we can confidently say that the perception that HWRC Booking Systems cause an increase in fly-tipping does not match reality.

Learn more.

Find out more about the benefits of a HWRC Booking System here.