The council was presented with the award after topping the REPIC Local Authority leader board for delivering against its yearly targets. At the start of 2019, Kent County Council and REPIC developed targets for the collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). 

The REPIC Champion of Champions initiative aims to improve all of its partnered Local Authority sites staff awareness of WEEE, understanding what’s in scope and working on ways to improve efficiencies around collections of electricals from sites. 

Kent County Council received training workshops delivered by REPIC coupled with practical advice on how to fill and maintain site containers. This improved the overall awareness of WEEE recycling of both the site staff as well as customer services teams and waste managers at the Council. The training complemented Kent’s ongoing training, helping to achieve the 2019 target of reducing the number of vehicles sent into the sites for the collection of WEEE relative to the volume collected by 7% year on year. A further direct benefit of reducing the numbers of vehicles, has meant less vehicles on the roads and a reduction in local CO2 emissions.

The accolade, handed out annually by REPIC, aims to reward councils who reach an agreed target set in partnership between the producer compliance scheme (PCS) and local authority. Kent Council Council’s win was announced to the council team prior to the lockdown. However, the well-deserved first place prize of a fish and chip lunchtime treat for all of the 20 members of staff involved in the project will be delivered when restrictions have been lifted.

Michelle Wass, account manager at REPIC, said: “It’s great that Kent County Council has been recognised in this way and it demonstrates our commitment to continuously improve the awareness and efficiency of WEEE recycling.

“The training provided helped all the staff deliver an improved level of service and by making small, simply changes to their operations the team has delivered a big improvement. The award recognises what can be achieved through a successful partnership.”

To find out more about the benefits of partnering with REPIC, local authorities should visit www.repic.co.uk