AGENDA ITEM NO: 7
ENVIRONMENT AND REGENERATION SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
WEDNESDAY 23 JULY 2008
REPORT FROM THE CHIEF ENVIRONMENT OFFICER
WASTE COLLECTION – ROUND REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
To inform Members of the publicity arrangements of the launch and the financial consequences of
the implementation of the reconfigured waste and recycling collection rounds.
INFORMATION
1
Following the report to the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on 28 June
2006, the Consultants, Entec, were engaged to redesign the waste collection rounds.
The redesign was required for the following reasons:
The last round review had taken place back in 2000 and the rounds had gradually
expanded to meet the demands of the large quantity of new housing developments
across the County, inefficiencies had built up in the routing of the rounds as a result.

The existing rounds were at maximum capacity with no ability to cope with the further
planned growth in housing numbers across the County.

The increase in the recycling service coverage across the County Borough had
changed the volumes of the individual waste streams collected on various routes.
The Consultants have completed the work and redesigning the routes to maximise the
efficiency of the rounds and reduce the overall mileage covered each day. The Executive
Board, on 1 July 2008, approved the implementation of the new rounds and the changes will
come into effect week commencing 4 August 2008.
2
The financial consequences of the new arrangements are as follows:(i) Labour costs
The labour costs are unchanged by the proposals as the number of collection rounds has not
changed. The proposals will prevent a future pressure on the service because the rounds are
currently at full capacity. Planned additional housing developments would have necessitated
an additional refuse and recycling round in future years.
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Additional costs because of round review - Nil
Future saving - Cost of additional labour for refuse and recycling round £157,250.
(ii) Vehicle hire/leasing costs
The vehicle hire/leasing costs are unchanged by the proposals as the number of collection
rounds has not changed. The proposals will, however, prevent a future pressure on the
service because the rounds are currently at full capacity. Planned additional housing
developments would have necessitated an additional refuse and recycling round in future
years.
Additional costs because of round review - Nil
Future saving - Cost of additional vehicles for refuse and recycling round £71,000.
(iii) Fuel Costs
Officers were hoping to identify a saving in regard to fuel costs but due to the high volatility
of fuel costs this has not been possible to quantify. For example the Council’s fuel costs have
risen 47% in the last 12 months since the introduction of this work with regard to the round
review.
Additional costs because of round review - Nil
Immediate saving – Reduced amount of fuel for vehicles £28,000 - £56,000 per annum*
*Note - The saving is based on diesel prices as at July 2008. The 47% increase in diesel
prices has significantly increased the overall cost of the service.
3
Publicity arrangements for the launch of the new collection days will include the following:(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
Letter to each resident advising of the new collection day.
Wrap-around Wrexham Leader arranged for weekend of 2nd/3rd August.
Marcher Sound advertisements to run throughout July.
Banners in the Town Centre and large villages throughout the County Borough.
Posters to be distributed by Members and internally to Estate Offices and public
buildings.
Loud hailer system to tour each route on the evening before collection informing
residents of their new date and which bin is to be emptied.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Committee notes the content of the report.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
None.
WEBSITE INFORMATION
None.
Report Ref: CEnO/15/08S
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