5.0 Kerbside Contents

WEEE Collection Good Practice Guidance 1 5.0 Kerbside Contents 5.1 Bulky waste 01 5.1.1 Interacting with local reuse schemes 01 5.1.2 Identifying reusable items 02 5.1.3 Collection arrangements 02 5.2 Staff training 04 5.3 Handling and storage 05 5.4 Contractual arrangements 06 5.5 Small Mixed WEEE collections 07 WEEE Collection Good Practice Guidance 1 Audience: The primary audience for this section of the guidance is waste collection authorities (and their contractors). However, third sector organisations and producer compliance schemes will also be interested in this guidance. Benefits: The benefit to the collection authorities of implementing this good practice is to maximise the WEEE that is segregated for reuse and recycling through their kerbside/bulky waste collections. Producer compliance schemes will find this section of interest as they can benefit from innovative collection methods and may wish to discuss appropriate approved recycling and reuse routes with the local authorities. Third sector organisations will find the guidance of value by understanding how they can support waste collection authorities to maximise diversion of WEEE for reuse. Summary: This chapter considers the options available to waste collection authorities for maximising reuse and recycling of WEEE, through kerbside/ bulky waste collections, bring banks and ad hoc collections such as WEEE amnesties. Advice is therefore provided on how to identify reusable items, how to raise awareness of reuse avenues with householders and how to interact with local reuse schemes so they provide the level of service required. Useful sources of information of relevance to this section of the guidance are available from the Furniture Reuse Network. Whether furniture, bric-a-brac or household WEEE, an item is only reusable if there is a market for 5.1 Bulky waste 01 it. If bulky waste items are to be segregated for reuse it will be important for local authority call 5.1.1 Interacting with local reuse schemes 01 centre staff and collection crews to know what items are potentially reusable. 5.1.2 Identifying reusable items 02 5.1 Bulky waste 5.1.3 Collection arrangements 02 5.1.1 Interacting with local reuse schemes 5.2 Staff training 04 It is good practice for waste collection managers to liaise with local reuse groups to identify what 5.3 Handling and storage 05 items are in demand and what items, regardless of their perceived quality, are of no use and to develop a list that is appropriate for their circumstances. 5.4 Contractual arrangements 06 It is also good practice for officers to visit reuse organisations and see first hand the work they are 5.5 Small Mixed WEEE collections 07 doing. Further information is available in Bulky Basics, a guidance report produced by the FRN. WEEE Collection Good Practice Guidance 2 Some key considerations for acceptable and unacceptable items are: Typically Acceptable Unacceptable Items of lower (perceived) value1 Worn out, incomplete or damaged item IT equipment (data eradication is recommended No market demand for item but it is not a criterion for acceptability) Items that are marketable Uneconomic to repair Good working order Scratched or dented (other than very minor) Cosmetically sound No cables; internal shelves; salad trays etc. Complete with all fixtures / fittings 5.1.2 Identifying reusable items If local authority collection crews are to identify potentially reusable items from those they collect, it is good practice to include reuse identification in staff training. Template training materials are provided with this guidance (see separate download). WRAP also provides training for HWRC operatives. It is also good practice for collection crews to visit reuse organisations to see the work they are doing first hand. Safety is obviously important, however items donated by members of the public will not have previously been subject to a PAT test. Compliance with safety standards cannot therefore be checked before the item is donated. The reuse organisation will need to be satisfied that all appropriate safety and functionality tests have been completed before the item is put on sale. 5.1.3 Collection arrangements As householders may be unaware or unable to verify safety standards this cannot be a criterion for accepting WEEE for reuse. Safety checks should be completed by the reuse organisation prior to resale or donation elsewhere. Maximising reuse 5.1 Bulky waste 01 Some items can become unsuitable for reuse before collection if householders do not protect them. 5.1.1 Interacting with local reuse schemes 01 Similarly damage can occur during collection if not handled and loaded appropriately. Whilst not 5.1.2 Identifying reusable items 02 always possible, it is good practice to collect from inside the home and therefore to provide a date and 5.1.3 Collection arrangements 02 time for collection. This will prevent weather damage, vandalism and theft. Insurance will be needed that allows crew to enter homes (these staff should have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check). 5.2 Staff training 04 5.3 Handling and storage 05 5.4 Contractual arrangements 06 1 Sometimes items of low value are not donated for reuse because the householder does not believe that other people will want it. However for some of these items there is still demand and therefore householders should be encouraged to donate such items, as long as the other criteria are met. 5.5 Small Mixed WEEE collections 07 WEEE Collection Good Practice Guidance 3 It is important to protect items during handling and transit so staff will require suitable equipment. Good practice The vehicle to carry a sack truck or platform truck for moving large appliances from the household to the vehicle safely; the vehicle to carry packaging (e.g. blankets, cardboard boxes or plastic sheeting) to wrap protectively around the item if necessary; do not stack items (unless they can be secured to the vehicle and protected from the item above/ below); the vehicle should have a tail lift and the ability to secure items to ensure they do not damage other items during transit; reusable and recyclable items to be segregated on the vehicle to minimise potential damage or contamination; spot checks of collections to occur to ensure that crew are handling items appropriately and that advice is being adhered to; and training in how to access difficult to reach properties to be provided to operatives. Maximising recycling If both reusable and recyclable items are to be collected together, it is good practice to treat the recyclable product with the same care and attention to ensure potentially reusable items are not accidentally damaged. Staff will need to be trained (see Kerbside 2 and Retailer take-back 2.2). If all items are destined to be recycled not reused they can be handled to maximise the load rather than protect the item. Items can be stacked (as long as they can be secured, e.g. will not fall onto operatives when unloading), and they will not require protective packaging. Fridges need to be secured to ensure there is no damage to the cooling circuit and televisions and monitors need to be handled to prevent breakage of the screen. It will be necessary for staff to take account of manual handling and other health and safety risks. 5.1 Bulky waste 01 Many bulky waste service providers will have arrangements to dispose of household WEEE for recycling at a local Designated Collection Facility (DCF) (e.g. the local waste transfer station, the 5.1.1 Interacting with local reuse schemes 01 WCA depot or household waste recycling centre). It is good practice to record the number of items / 5.1.2 Identifying reusable items 02 weight of the different WEEE categories as the data will be needed by a number of stakeholders and 5.1.3 Collection arrangements 02 can contribute to waste collection authority performance indicators and targets, see Contracts and partnership agreements 2. 5.2 Staff training 04 It should be noted that WCAs do not require a Duty of Care or a Hazardous Waste Consignment Note 5.3 Handling and storage 05 when collecting from households but if the crew also undertakes collections from businesses during the same round, these collections will require the appropriate transfer or consignment notes. 5.4 Contractual arrangements 06 5.5 Small Mixed WEEE collections 07 WEEE Collection Good Practice Guidance 4 5.2 Staff training Call centre staff Training will be needed to ensure call centre staff can maximise the reuse potential of the bulky waste requests. The best option will vary depending on local arrangements with reuse organisations. It is good practice for the call centre staff to do one or more of the following: identify whether the item is Business to Consumer (B2C) WEEE and in working order and potentially reusable. Identify whether the household permits the item to be reused; suggest the item could be reused via an online network such as Freegle or Freecycle (many local authorities now have their own similar sites); suggest the item is delivered to an approved2 reuse organisation directly or collected by them; and arrange bulky waste collection if necessary – provide instruction as to how the item should be handled and stored prior to collection. provide advice on how items can be presented for collection. See 5.3 Handling and storage [link] for further information. In some local authorities the bulky waste requests are taken by staff that provide call centre services on a host of subject areas or the call centre service is provided by a third party. In these cases (i.e. requests not managed by the waste department) it can be difficult to ensure that staff are promoting reuse.

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