Item No.
City of Westminster
Report to:
Date
Cabinet Member for Street 22 April 2004
Environment :
Cllr Judith Warner
Classification:
Report of:
Title of Report:
Replacement of On-Street Big
Black Bins with OMB
Containers
For General Release
Director of Environment and Leisure
Policy Context
Civic renewal programme: Clean Streets
Financial Summary
Savings estimated at £125,000 p/a
1.
Summary of this Report
1.1
This report summarises the results of the recent ‘OMB Containers’ trial and
recommends that this style of container is introduced as a replacement for the
current ‘Big Black Bin’ wheeled containers at all suitable sites during Autumn
2004.
1.2
The availability of permanent on-street waste storage containers is undoubtedly
popular with residents and has significantly reduced the problem of household
waste sacks being left on-street outside of scheduled collection times. The
current ‘Big Black Bin’ wheeled containers do however have a number of
drawbacks; bins can often ‘wander’ from their prescribed location, lids can be left
open exposing the contents to passers-by, and the frequency/method of
emptying often leaves containers looking in a poor-state-of-repair soon after
being newly-installed.
1.3
In addition to robustly addressing each of these ‘customer perception’ issues, the
OMB Container system also removes the need for any manual handling by Onyx
operatives and will reduce service costs by 15% (£125,000 saving on current Big
Black Bin annual service cost of £825,000).
2.
Recommendations
2.1
That the Cabinet Member approves a variation to the Waste Collection, Street
Cleansing and Ancillary Services Contract to replace the Big Black Bin Service
with the OMB Container Service with effect from October 2004, the size and
location of OMB containers to agreed by the Director of Environment and
Leisure.
Page 1 of 8
2.2
That the Directors of Environment and Leisure and Legal and Administrative
Services be authorised to do everything necessary to give effect to the above
recommendation.
3
3.1
Background
The current Big Black Bins service was born out of a requirement to contain
waste which was dumped on the highway in certain areas outside of the normal
waste collection times. Between one and four 1280 litre wheeled containers are
currently located at 156 on-street locations, predominantly in Pimlico, Queens
Park and Bayswater. All containers are serviced three times a day, seven days a
week. Whilst undoubtedly popular with residents, the Big Black Bins have a
number of drawbacks:
Table 1 : Comparison of Big Black Bin and OMB Systems
Current Big Black Bin System
Proposed OMB System
Bin can ‘wander’ from prescribed
location.
OMB bin cannot be moved by
residents/passers-by.
Lid can be left open exposing
contents to passers-by/vermin.
Roll-top lid automatically closes after
use.
Paintwork chips when being emptied
by dustcart.
No contact between vehicle and binfront. Lifted by trunnions on side of bin.
Bags dumped next to bin because
users are reluctant to touch bin lid.
Foot pedal fitted.
Bin must be pulled to the rear of the
dustcart by an Onyx operative.
Bin picked up by remote control
operated from vehicle cab.
Emptying required three times/day
due to limited capacity.
Larger capacity even with only two
lifts/day.
(1280 litres x 3 lifts = 3840 litres
daily capacity)
(3200 x 2 lifts = 6400 litres daily
capacity)
3.2
OMB Containers were first tested in Westminster in June 2003. This first test
however only involved six sites for one week and was primarily designed to
satisfy officers that the system was operationally practical in Westminster.
3.3
Officer focus on the successful implementation of the new Onyx contract (Sept
2003) meant that a second larger-scale OMB Container trial did not take place
until March 2004. This trial involved the siting of sixteen containers for a twoweek period at high-profile locations in Victoria, Bayswater, Marylebone and
Queen’s Park. Notices were prominently displayed on the bins encouraging local
residents to comment on the new system.
3.4
Only fifteen comments were received between 8th March and 5th April. Of these,
fourteen comments were from individuals and one was from a Residents
Page 2 of 8
Association (Denbigh Street). Eight of the sixteen trial sites attracted no
comments at all. All comments received are summarised in Table 2 below.
Table 2 : Summary of Residents Comments
Site
Support Oppose Comment
Artesian Road, W2
X
Too big and causing obstruction.
Cambridge Street, SW1
X
Silver bin is an eyesore.
Denbigh Street, SW1
X
Too large and badly sited.
Denbigh Street, SW1
X
Too big/silver/noisy/badly sited.
Eccleston Square, SW1
X
Too large.
Gloucester Street, SW1
X
Too large. Take up a parking space.
Artesian Road, W2
Gloucester Street, SW1
X
X
Easy access but size/colour is wrong.
Gloucester Street, SW1
X
Unsightly, too noisy.
Gloucester Street, SW1
X
Looks like a builders shed.
Sussex Street, SW1
X
Tavistock Road, W11
Good system : use a British supplier.
X
Blocking access.
Thirleby Road, SW1
X
Too big/too silver.
Thirleby Road, SW1
No. support/oppose
% support/oppose
X
11
73%
Thirleby Road, SW1
X
4
36%
Noisy when emptied.
3.5
The main points of concern related to the silver colour, the size of the containers,
noise and sight lines being obscured for drivers approaching locations. Officers
would agree with the ‘builders shed’ comparison and acknowledge that leaving
the bins unpainted (galvanised steel) has not been successful. Officers also
acknowledge the “poor siting” complaints at the Denbigh Street trial site. This
was however due to the trial bin being incorrectly positioned when first installed
and was soon rectified. The implementation timetable in Table 3 below however
also includes an eight week period (June/July) for joint site surveys by Cleansing,
Highways and Parking representatives to ensure all potential locations are
suitable from a traffic safety perspective.
3.6
More generally, it is acknowledged that the increased size of the bins can have a
detrimental effect on the streetscape unless they are sensitively located. For
example, sites immediately adjacent to the front doors and windows of residential
properties are unlikely to be acceptable, as are sites adjacent to listed buildings.
However, in other settings it is considered that the use of a black livery will
reduce the visual impact of the bins considerably and to an extent that will be
acceptable in the majority of locations.
Page 3 of 8
3.7
Residents also commented that the OMB containers were easier to use because
of the foot pedal and this was supported by SEM monitoring reports of there
being less waste dumped around the OMB containers than when they had been
Big Black Bin sites. The Onyx drivers also found the collection vehicle had
greater manoeuvrability than a standard dustcart and the onboard computer
controlling lifting functions made emptying containers smooth and efficient
without any requirement to handle the containers.
3.8
The OMB bin is available in three sizes; 1800, 2400 and 3200 litres. Preliminary
surveys have also already identified a small number of established Big Black Bin
sites where the existing wheeled container will continue to be the most
appropriate container. All 156 existing Big Black Bin sites will however be jointly
surveyed by Cleansing, Highways and Parking officers (see timetable in Table 3
below) and site specific decisions will be made on the most appropriate mix of
bin types/sizes to suit different locations.
4.
Implementation Timetable
4.1
Table 3 below provides an indicative project plan for the implementation of the
OMB system:
Table 3: OMB Implementation Timetable
Milestone
Timetable
Cabinet Member approval
w/c 26th April 2004
Letter to Onyx confirming approval to
proceed with purchase of vehicles.
w/c 3rd May
Onyx place order for two OMB collection
vehicles (‘Clean Streets’ branding).
w/c 10th May
Agree Contract Variation with Onyx.
By 31st May
Joint survey of proposed sites with
Parking and Highways representatives.
Onyx place order for approx. 200
containers (sizes and number
dependent on site surveys).
1st June – 31st July
w/c 2nd August
Agree roll-out programme with Onyx
1st Aug – 30th Sept
Take delivery of vehicles/containers
w/c 19th October
Launch event / commence roll-out
programme.
w/c 26th October
5.
Financial Implications
5.1
The potential for further savings if the City Council instead of Onyx purchased
the OMB collection vehicles has been explored. The potential savings to the
current Container Washing Service by providing a vehicle dedicated to washing
Page 4 of 8
OMB containers on site rather than transport each OMB bin to a central depot for
washing/maintenance has also been explored. The financial evaluation of each
of these options is shown in Table 4 below:
Table 4 : Financial Evaluation of Options
1.
Option
Description
Revenue
Saving
£
Cost of
Capital 1
£
Net WCC
Saving
£
1
Onyx purchase two collection
vehicles and 200 OMB bins.
£125,000
-
£125,000
2
As Option 1 but Onyx also
purchase one OMB washing
vehicle.
£31,000
-
£31,000
3
WCC purchase two collection
vehicles and 200 OMB bins.
£171,000
£74,500
£96,500
4
As Option 3 but WCC also
purchase one OMB washing
vehicle.
£123,000
£97,000
£26,000
Annualised cost of capital (@ 3.5% cost of capital and assuming vehicles
have standard five year working life).
5.2
As can be seen in Table 4 above, there is no financial benefit to the City Council
by directly purchasing the vehicles and containers. In addition buying in the
washing vehicle would reduce the saving from £125,000 per annum to £31,000
and would provide minimal benefit to the Service. Not purchasing a dedicated
washing vehicle will not have a detrimental impact on service delivery as Onyx
will collect and wash OMB bins at the Alperton depot at the same time as
wheeled bins, litter bins and other on-street equipment. Considering all four
possibilities, Option 1 will give the City Council the greatest savings in the long
run and provide least disruption to the Service.
5.3
The £125,000 annual saving from this proposed variation has already been
taken account of in the 2004/05 Departmental Growth and Savings Plan. The
proposed implementation of this variation only from October 2004 however
means that only approximately £52,000 will be saved in the 04/05 financial year.
The estimated £73,000 shortfall will however be realised by additional savings
within the existing Cleansing Service budget.
6.
Legal Implications
6.1
There are no legal implications arising from this report. If approved, the
replacement of the Big Black Bin Service with the OMB Service will be made by
means of the Contract Variation procedure.
7.
Staffing Implications
Page 5 of 8
7.1
There are no staffing implications arising from this report.
8.
Conclusions and reasons for proposed decision
8.1
The OMB system will address many of the recognised problems with the current
Big Black Bin service and also generate an annual contract saving of £125,000.
It is therefore recommended that officers be authorised to agree a Contract
Variation with Onyx to replace the Big Black Bin service with the OMB Containers
service.
If you have any questions on this report or wish to inspect any of the
Background papers, please contact:
Leith Penny on 020 7641 7940
lpenny@westminster.gov.uk
Background Papers : None
For completion by Cabinet Member
Declaration of Interest

I have no interest to declare in respect of this report.
Signed : ………………………………….
Page 6 of 8
Date : …………………
NAME:

I have to declare an interest
State nature of interest ……………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Signed : ………………………………….
Date : …………………
NAME:
(NB If you have an interest you should seek advice as to whether it is appropriate
to make a decision in relation to this matter.)
For the reasons set out above, I agree the recommendation in the report entitled
“Replacement of On-Street Big Black Bins with OMB Containers” and reject any
alternative options which are referred to but not recommended.
Signed :
………………………………………………
Cabinet Member for : …………………………………….
Date :
………………………………………………
If you have any additional comment which you would want actioned in
connection with your decision you should discuss this with the report author and
then set out your comment below before the report and this pro-forma is returned
to the Secretariat for processing.
Additional comment : ………………………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
NOTE : If you do not wish to approve the recommendations, or wish to make an
alternative decision, it is important that you consult the report author, the Director
of Legal and Administrative Services, the Director of Finance and, if there are
staffing implications, the Head of Human Resources (or their representatives) so
that (1) you can be made aware of any further relevant considerations that you
should take into account before making your decision and (2) your reasons for
the decision can be properly identified and recorded, as required by law.
Note to Cabinet Member : Your decision will now be published and copied to the
Members of the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee. If the decision falls
Page 7 of 8
within the criteria for fall-in, it will not be implemented until five working days have
elapsed from publication to allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to decide
whether it wishes to call the matter in.
Page 8 of 8