Recycling and Waste Strategy collection changes from 2026 Equality Impact Assessment

Project details

1. What is the main purpose of the project?

In order to deliver the ambitions of the Recycling and Waste Strategy 2025-2040, service changes are required meaning the way that residents recycling and waste is collected in the future may change.

2. What main areas or activities does the project cover?

The operational delivery of kerbside recycling and waste collections from homes across all of Colchester.

3. Are there changes to an existing policy being considered?

This is replacing our current 'Waste Vision' adopted by us in 2015 and the subsequent 'Waste Strategy' agreed by Cabinet in December 2016.

A new strategy (subject to agreement) sets out the new vision and principles:

Vision: Colchester is working together with the community to reduce, reuse and recycle, and lower our carbon footprint through efficient, cost-effective waste services.

Principles:

1. Deliver value for money.
2. Provide a safe, compliant and resilient service.
3. Have a community-led approach.
4. Minimize environmental impact.
5. Be innovative and forward-thinking.

4. Who are the main audience, users or customers who will be affected by the project?

All residents in Colchester.

5. What outcomes want to be achieved from the project?

The proposed new collection service replaces the collection of separate materials streams in sacks and boxes, with one wheeled bin for plastics, metals, paper and card, and a recycling box for glass.

Refuse waste collections will be made from one wheeled bin and will remain fortnightly.

The new service will include the roll out of food waste collections to flats. Residual waste fortnightly collection wheeled bin.

This new service aims to:

• deliver value for money
• provide a safe, complaint and resilient service
• have a community-led approach
• minimise the impact on the environment
• be innovative and forward thinking

6. Are other service areas or partner agencies involved in delivery?

Essex County Council and the Essex Waste Partnership:

At its meeting in September 2024, Cabinet were being asked to adopt the Waste Strategy for Essex 2024-2054 which provides a 30-year framework for how Essex councils are seeking to manage the waste collected by local authorities from homes, businesses and street cleansing.

The focus of the strategy is to protect the environment whilst delivering high quality, value for money services that align fully with national policy and meet local needs.

The strategy identifies the key areas of work to deliver the aims and ambitions of the partnership, shared targets and approaches for the management of waste.

The Waste Strategy for Essex and the Colchester Recycling and Waste Strategy, are complementary yet distinct initiatives, each serving unique purposes within the broader waste management framework:

• The Waste Strategy for Essex is a county-wide strategy designed to address overarching waste management goals across all Essex authorities, focusing on strategic planning, policy setting, and large-scale initiatives that promote sustainable waste practices throughout the entire region. It does not give direction on how recycling and waste materials should be collected.
• The Colchester Recycling and Waste Strategy is proposed to be specifically tailored to meet the local needs of the Colchester community. It focuses on the implementation of practical, on-the-ground recycling and waste services, ensuring efficient and effective waste collection, processing, and reduction efforts within the Colchester area.

Other service areas:

• Online team
• Customer Service Centre
• Media, PR and Comms team
• Finance team
• ICT team
• Procurement team

7. Relevant information, data, surveys or consultations

The following relevant information, data, surveys or consultations¹ help us assess the likely or actual impact of the project upon customers or staff.

A consultation on the new strategy was launched on 05 July 2024 until 15 August 2024 to garther views on the vision and principles, ensuring that they are the areas that our community wants us to focus on.

The consultation proposed a number of activities to enable achievement of the vision and principles. The consultation responses, insight and government policy updates have been fully considered when reviewing the plans to implement the changes.

The key themes from the consultation relating to introducing changes to the collection scheme are:

• Lack of space/difficult to store bins
• Prefer/want wheeled bins/more wheeled bins
• Concern about cost/no additional charges
• Bins are difficult to move/hard to manage for elderly/disabled
• Wheeled bins are unsightly/will ruin appearance of area
• Wheeled bins will obstruct pavements/roads
• Bins are more hygienic/bags attract vermin
• Make recycling as easy/simple as possible
• Education/clear messaging/accessible information needed
• Don't reduce service/frequency of collections
• Bins will reduce spilled waste/too much spilled waste
• No rear access/difficult access for bins
• Agree with/prefer comingled recycling
• Residents should have choice of bins or bags/flexibility needed
• Concern that bin will be too small/not fit all recycling in/limit recycling
• No need to change to bins/current system works well
• Bins impractical/unsuitable for terraced properties
• Options for different sized bins/smaller bins needed
• Disagree with mixed recycling (needs to be sorted later/will cost more)
• Consider flats/ensure options available
• Wheeled bins are more convenient/easier to move/better for collection crew
• More flexibility needed for larger households/those who make more waste (e.g. for medical needs)
• Bins not suitable/practical for all properties
• Don't produce enough waste to need a bin
• Plastic bins are not environmentally friendly
• Bins are unhygienic/difficult to clean
• Bins unsuitable in rural locations/difficult for collection vehicles

Public Sector Equality Duty

8. The ‘general duty’

The ‘general duty’ states that we must have “due regard” to the need to:

1. eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation
2. advance equality of opportunity between people who share a ‘protected characteristic²’ and those who do not³
3. foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not

Not all policies help us to meet the ‘general duty’, but most do.

The policy helps us to ‘eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation’ by:

• Equitable access: Recycling and waste services that are accessible to all residents including those with disabilities, the elderly and people from diverse cultural backgrounds through accessible bins and information in multiple languages and formats where required (e.g. large print), as well as assisted bin collections for those unable to manage their recycling and waste due to age, illness or disability.
• Community involvement: Actively involving a diverse range of community members in the development and implementation of the strategy ensures that it reflects the needs and concerns of all groups, reducing the risk of indirect discrimination.
• Staff training: Council staff involved in waste collection and management receive training on equality, diversity, and inclusion to prevent any discriminatory practices or behaviours when interacting with the public.
• Transparency: Clear and transparent communication about compliance expectations can prevent perceptions of bias or unfair treatment.
• Support for low-income households: Any new changes to the recycling and waste will not burden households financially.

The policy helps us to 'advance equality of opportunity…' by

• Equitable access: Recycling and waste services that are accessible to all residents including those with disabilities, the elderly and people from diverse cultural backgrounds through accessible bins and information in multiple languages and formats where required (e.g. large print), as well as assisted bin collections for those unable to manage their recycling and waste due to age, illness or disability ensuring they can participate equally.
• Affordable services: Any new changes to the recycling and waste will not burden households financially, reducing economic barriers, enabling equal access to these services for all residents and encourage participation.
• Supporting diverse needs: We can offer different waste management solutions that cater to the varied needs of different community groups, such as providing smaller bins for elderly residents who generate less waste.
• Consultation: Incorporating input from a diverse range of community members in the planning and design ensures that the services meet the needs of all, including those who might otherwise be overlooked.
• Equitable distribution of environmental benefits: Ensuring that all communities, particularly those historically marginalized or underserved, benefit equally from clean and well-maintained environments, reducing the health disparities often associated with poor waste management.

The policy helps us to ‘foster good relations…’ in the following way(s)⁴:

• Multilingual resources: Providing information in multiple languages ensures that everyone in the community understands the recycling and waste collection methods. This helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures that all groups feel included and respected.
• Shared environmental goals: By emphasizing that recycling and waste management are collective responsibilities that benefit the entire community, the plan can unite people around a common cause.

Health inequalities

We have an important role in improving residents’ health under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This relates to both its ‘core functions’ (such as housing, leisure, greenspaces and environmental health) and to its ‘enabling roles’ (such as economicdevelopment, planning and engaging with communities).

We recognise that its Public Sector Equality Duty and its role in improving health are interrelated and mutually supportive. This is especially true across the ‘protected characteristics’ of age and disability.

'Health inequalities are the unjust and avoidable differences in people's health across the population. They come from the unequal distribution of income, wealth and power and influence the wider determinants of health such as work, education, social support and housing.

Currently, in England people living in the least deprived areas will live around 20 years longer in good health than those in the most deprived areas. Reducing health inequalities means giving everyone the same opportunities to lead a healthy life, no matter where they live or who they are.'

9. Explain how this policy helps us to improve health/reduce health inequalities for residents

• Universal Service Provision: Ensuring that all residents, regardless of socioeconomic status, have access to high-quality waste disposal and recycling services helps reduce health disparities. Inequitable access to these services can exacerbate health inequalities, particularly in underprivileged communities that might otherwise face disproportionate exposure to environmental risks.
• Targeted support for vulnerable groups: By providing additional support to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, or those living in high-density housing, the strategy helps ensure that these residents are not left behind, thereby reducing health inequalities.
• Improving living conditions: Clean, well-maintained neighbourhoods contribute to improved mental health by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression associated with living in poorly maintained environments. This is particularly important in low-income areas, where poor waste management can exacerbate feelings of neglect and marginalization.
• Sustainable practices for future generations: By promoting sustainable waste management practices, the strategy contributes to a healthier environment for future generations. Long-term exposure to clean air, water, and soil helps prevent chronic diseases and supports overall public health.
• Climate change mitigation: Effective waste management, including recycling and composting, reduces greenhouse gas emissions. By contributing to climate change mitigation, the plan indirectly protects health by reducing the incidence of climate-related health issues such as heat stress, respiratory diseases, and vector-borne diseases.

10. Disproportionate impacts

This section helps us to identify any disproportionate impacts. We will indicate whether the project is likely to particularly benefit or disadvantage any of the 'protected characteristics'.

Age – older people (60+)

Positive impact

This group benefits from the assisted collection service. The potential introduction of wheeled bins will help some residents in this group. The proposed system will be simpler and require less management of boxes and bags.

Negative impact

Some people may have particular difficulty in manoeuvring wheeled bins. Unable to access information online.

Disability – physical, sensory, learning, mental health issues, other

Physical – positive impact

This group benefits from the assisted collection service. The potential introduction of wheeled bins will help some residents in this group. The exemption collection service would benefit this group, particularly for offensive / medical waste. The proposed system will be simpler and require less management of boxes and bags.

Physical – negative impact

Same as those for age characteristics.

Sensory – positive and negative impact

Same as those for age characteristics.

Learning – positive and negative impact

Same as those for age characteristics.

Mental health issues – positive and negative impact

Same as those for age characteristics.

Ethnicity – white, black, chinese, mixed ethnic origin, gypsies/travellers

positive impact

The assisted collection service will continue to benefit this group. Investment in education and engagement will encourage participation and reduce risk of enforcement action for improper activities.

Language – English not as a first language

positive impact

Same as those for ethinicity characteristics.

Negative impact

Printed and online information is provided in English which could impact negatively upon this group.

Pregnancy and maternity – women who are pregnant or have given birth in the last 26 weeks

Positive impact

This group benefits from the assisted collection service. The potential introduction of wheeled bins will help some residents in this group. The exemption collection service would benefit this group, particularly for offensive / medical waste.

Negative impact

Individuals within this group may have particular difficulty in manoeuvring wheeled bins.

Religion or belief – people with a religious belief (or none)

Positive impact

The assisted collection service will continue to benefit this group.

Sex – men and women

No positive or negative impacts found.

Gender reassignment – transgender/transsexual

No positive or negative impacts found.

Sexual orientation – straight/heterosexual, gay or lesbian, bisexual, other sexual orientation

No positive or negative impacts found.

Marriage and civil partnership – people who are married or in a civil partnership

No positive or negative impacts found.

11. How negative impacts can be minimised or removed

Issue found	Planned action	Lead and time frame
Some people may have particular difficulty in manoeuvring wheeled bins.	The assisted collection service will continue to help customers who have particular difficulty in presenting their waste on the boundary of their property.	Already in place.
Printed and online information is provided in English which could impact negatively upon this group.	Website information can be translated via online translation websites/tools. Customers which first language is not English can request that letters or leaflets are provided in a preferred language. Officers have access to a range of translation tools including text translation, instant telephone translation and face-to-face translation services.	Already in place.
Unable to access information online.	The Customer Service Centre is well trained and able to provide information over the phone, send out printed material, or refer for an officer to visit the resident. Councillors who may be contacted, are also able to contact the Customer Service Centre or recycling and Waste team to apply the same.	Already in place

Monitoring and review

12. How will you monitor the impact of your project once it has been put into effect?

Key Performance Indicators have been set, as well as several aims as set out in the document. Complaint data is reviewed monthly.

13. Could this discriminate against any protected characteristic, either directly or indirectly?

Complaint data will give an indication on whether service has been poor for any people with protected characteristics.

Completed by Rosa Tanfield.

Review date⁵: 05 2027 (new service launches April 2026).

• [1] Our surveys and consultations include ‘equality monitoring information’ to help us identify any concerns or views expressed by any particular group or ‘protected characteristic’. It can also help us to assess how representative of our customers the respondent group is. Local data on the ‘protected characteristics’ is available online by searching for Census 2021.
• [2] The Equality Act’s `protected characteristics’ include age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sex and sexual orientation. It also covers marriage and civil partnerships, but not for all aspects of the duty.
• [3] This involves having due regard, in particular, to the need to: (a) remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by persons who share a protected characteristic that are connected to that characteristic; (b) take steps to meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected characteristic that are different from the needs of persons who do not share it, and (c) encourage persons who share a relevant protected characteristic to participate in public life or in any other activity in which participation by such persons is disproportionately low.
• [4] This involves having due regard to the need to (a) tackle prejudice, and (b) promote understanding.
• [5] This is normally three years, but not always: You may know that the policy itself will be reviewed earlier in which case the EqIA should be reviewed at that time. Or, in the case of a five-year strategy, you may want to have a review date of five years. In the case of a 'one off' decision, such as closing a service, a review date may not be needed - in which case you should indicate ‘N/A’. In any event, the review date should be brought forward if you receive information or feedback which raises new concerns, or if the public policy context changes.