Recycling costs surge in East Devon

Council wants government to contribute

East Devon District Council will ask the government to help meet additional costs their recycling contractors have incurred during the coronavirus crisis.

The council’s cabinet heard it cost more for Suez, the company that runs the service, to collect material during lockdown as households generated much higher levels of recyclables, and the overall make-up changed. Increased volume of kerbside collections was compounded by the loss of key frontline staff because of  shielding and self-isolation.

“None of this had been planned or budgeted for and the service was working outside normal contract arrangements,” councillors were told. A report will be prepared for a future meeting detailing the exact amount the contractors want. Costs including additional labour, vehicles and fuel during the lockdown.

Simon Davey, strategic lead for finance, said that the cabinet would need to know the amount of money involved and officers are currently seeking legal advice around contracts to make sure East Devon District Council only has to pay what they have to pay.

Cllr Geoff Jung, portfolio holder for coast, country and environment, said: “This is a large amount of money, but they have had to do far beyond their own contract to cover what they have been having to do since March.”

Cllr John Loudoun added: “If there are extra costs identified, then we should ask our MPs to lobby for some or preferably all of the extra costs identified,” while Cllr Philip Skinner said that was a very sensible suggestion and one his Conservative opposition group would support.

It is too early to tell whether the kerbside composition change is long term. Councillors were told route changes had also blurred the lines between operational costs and covid costs and that there is likely to be an additional increase in cardboard as more people shop online for Christmas.

The cabinet agreed to consider the request from Suez that its additional costs are met by the council, and to lobby MPs for support from government to help cover the costs.