Providing the recycling services that you want to see in Guildford – How consultation informs service provision.
1. The consultation exercises we have carried out that have informed the services you receive:
The extensive recycling services that are provided to residents by Guildford Borough Council have been introduced and developed as a result of consultation with our residents.
Since 2000, the council has been carrying out consultation exercises asking residents to let us know what kind of recycling services they want to see being provided by the council. These consultation exercises have been carried out through the use of focus groups, the Citizens Panel, the Residents Survey, and questionnaires relating to specific schemes. We have also carried out annual door to door canvassing exercises.
The main issues raised during these consultation exercises can be seen below.
Issue raised by residents
Kerbside collections – residents wanted to see kerbside recycling collections extended to the majority of homes across the borough.
How the council responded
- Fortnightly collections were extended to the majority of homes by March 2002.
- The collections were changed to weekly for the majority of homes by March 2004.
- Flats were included into the collection rounds in 2004/05. This involved supplying these sites with suitable bins/receptacles.
Issue raised by residents
More materials on the kerbside recycling collection schemes.
How the council responded
- Glass was included onto the scheme in 2003.
- An additional purple box for mixed paper and card was introduced, borough-wide, by March 2004.
- The current garden waste collection scheme, for a small annual fee, was introduced borough-wide in 2004. Since the introduction of the scheme, residents have been contacted and asked for their views on the service. This feedback led to decisions relating to the amount of bags available to householders on the scheme. This consultation exercise also confirmed that 90% of residents on the scheme found it to be reliable.
- Plastic bottles have been collected from the kerbside, from the majority of homes, since the end of March 2007. A trial for collecting this material was carried out in 2006. Residents in the trial area were then asked for feedback on the scheme. This information led to the decision to use the spare capacity in the green boxes for collecting plastic bottles across the whole borough.
- Textiles have been collected from the kerbside, from the majority of homes, since the end of March 2007.
- Household batteries have been collected from the kerbside since January 2008.
- Weekly food waste collections will be made across the borough from November 2009.
Issue raised by residents
More banks for a wider range of materials at the ‘bring sites’, especially plastics.
How the council responded
- Banks for plastic bottles and other materials, including foil, Liquid food and drinks cartons and printer cartridges have been introduced to a number of sites since 2001/02.
Issue raised by residents
- More frequent emptying of banks
- Improving the cleanliness of the sites
How the council responded
- This service was reviewed in 2003/04 with poor performing sites being removed. This allowed us to concentrate on addressing the heavily used sites and improving the services at those sites.
- A member of staff is also employed to keep the sites clean and tidy.
Issue raised by residents
Publicity and Information
How the council responded
A number of publications have been produced including:
- The Recycling Directory
- Recycling News
- Community Recyclers News
- Various publications relating to specific schemes or issues (e.g. home composting)
The Recycling Team have also carried out a great deal of work in schools and within the communities through road shows.
Another important approach has been the introduction of annual ‘door to door canvassing’ campaigns. These involve Council representatives visiting a specific, targeted area and asking residents about recycling and their recycling habits. This work:
- Raises awareness of the schemes being provided.
- Increases participation.
- Enables the council to find out why residents do not recycle and offers the opportunity to encourage them to recycle more.
- Indicates the most effective forms of communication.
- Allows residents to report issues that they think are relevant to the service or offer ideas for improvement. It also allows the residents to become more involved in the service.
2. The frequency of these consultation exercises and how you can make contact with the Council and let us know your views on recycling.
- The Residents Survey takes place every 2 years.
- The ‘door to door canvassing’ campaigns take place annually.
- Consultation on specific trial areas take place with a view to using that information for future planning.
- We carry out roadshows and events, usually in the summer, where staff are available to answer any questions you may have. Please ring 01483 444499 for further details.
- It is also important for us to know if the information we provide in publications such as the Recycling News is informative and easy to follow. Each year, in the Recycling News, we will ask you to confirm if you think the way we communicate with you is effective.
- Customer feedback cards are also available in the reception area of the Recycling and Cleansing office. The recycling crews also have a supply of these cards on request.
- Your local Councillor can also be contacted. Find out who your Councillor is.
- You can also contact us with a view to highlighting a problem, raising an idea for the services or asking for information and advice:
Recycling Hotline
Woking Road Depot,
Woking Road,
Guildford,
GU1 1QE
Tel: 01483 444499
Email: recycling@guildford.gov.uk
Our opening times are:
- Monday – Thursday: 8.30 – 4.30pm
- Friday 8.30 – 4.00pm