Over 4,000 tonnes of extra waste was generated in Teignbridge in 2020/21 as the district's recycling rate remained at 56 per cent.

At a council scrutiny committee, Councillor Alistair Dewhirst (Lib Dem, Ipplepen) deputy leader and member for recycling, household waste and environmental health, praised staff for dealing with the "amazing increases" of recycling and black bag waste during the pandemic.

Recycling waste increased by more than 2,200 tonnes to 29,000 whilst 'residual' black bag waste went up by 2,000 tonnes to just over 23,000. It meant the council maintained its recycling rate, which remains just short of a record 57.4 per cent achieved over a decade ago.

The committee was also told that more than 1,500 new properties signed up to garden waste collection last year bringing the total to just over 25,000 – and a total of more than a million pounds for the council.

Cllr Dewhirst said: "It's a big increase on the service, and I'm very pleased to tell you that the latest news I've had is that we were over two-thousand subscriptions up at the start of [this] new subscription year.

"All in all, it shows our service has managed to deliver against the most incredible increases – obviously completely unforeseen due to the pandemic."

Extra bin price rise

The committee supported two recommendations which it hopes will improve the recycling rate, identified in a ten-point action plan in March.

Firstly, it backed a proposed increase in the charge for an extra non-recyclable waste bin from the existing £132 to £300 per year. The fee would apply to those who don't qualify for an extra free bin, either due to the number of people living at a property or for medical reasons.

A report to the committee said: "The current charge of £132 does not appear to be a sufficient deterrent for some to ensure they are recycling as much as possible rather than just renting an additional bin to dispose of their waste.

"It is difficult to estimate how many households would continue to rent a bin, but the significant increase in cost is likely to deter some and help to reduce waste and increase recycling."

In addition, Teignbridge are also set to mirror East Devon District Council by charging households for additional purple bags for 'side waste' to occasionally put alongside their bin when it is full.

Members voted to adopt East Devon's policy of charging £42 for ten purple sacks to be used for side waste collections up to three times a year. Restrictions are relaxed after Christmas to allow for delayed collections due to bank holidays.

Four members voted for the changes, five abstained and none voted against. Subject to the council executive's final approval, they will come into force next April.

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