Equality Impact Assessment
Part 1: Background and information
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Title of Proposal (strategy, policy, plan, project, contract, service change)
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Provision of Wheeled Bins Policy (January 2024) |
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Brief description of proposal (objective & purpose)
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The development of a policy to cover the provision of wheeled bins for new properties and when they become damaged or go missing, including when replacement bins will be provided free of charge. |
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Is this Proposal new/a review of an existing provision/a change/ deletion of existing provision |
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This is a review of the Bin Charging Policy originally introduced in April 2023 to create a more comprehensive Provision of Wheeled Bin Policy following 9 months data and feedback from Councillors and residents. |
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Who will be affected by this proposal? (Residents, Staff, Visitors, Businesses?) |
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Residents |
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Weblink to full details (if applicable) |
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Lead Director/HoS/Manager |
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Head of Environment and Public Realm |
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EqIA lead officer
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EqIA contributors (other services involved in proposal)
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Customer Services
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Date of EqIA
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December 2023
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The Equality Act (2010) places a general duty on all public sector organisations to have ‘due regard’ to its three main aims.
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How does the proposal meet the general duty of the act’s aims as listed below? (Please see the guidance document for further detail on what is meant by ‘due regard’ and types of discrimination).
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General duty |
Please Explain |
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Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010 |
Ensuring that a consistent policy is applied to all residents across the borough and ensuring that no one is disadvantaged due to their protected characteristics. |
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Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it. |
Removing the charges for broken bins, ensures that all residents have equal opportunity to access the waste and recycling services. |
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Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it |
Ensure that all residents have the equal opportunity to receive replacement bins, removing any views of disparity of service between different groups. |
Part 2: Impact Assessment and Supporting evidence
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Protected characteristic |
Positive impact |
Negative impact |
No impact |
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Age |
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X |
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Disability |
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X |
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Race (including ethnicity and nationality) |
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X |
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Religion or Belief |
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X |
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Sex |
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X |
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Sexual Orientation |
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X |
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Gender Reassignment |
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X |
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Pregnancy and Maternity |
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X |
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Marriage or Civil Partnership |
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X |
Please also consider the impact of the proposal in relation to:
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Local characteristic |
Positive impact |
Negative impact |
No impact |
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Poverty (in relation to groups with protected characteristics and those without) |
X Free replacement bins now provided when damaged |
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Armed Forces Community (Serving/ Veterans) |
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X |
Summary of Impact and Supporting Evidence
Please list below any data/evidence you have used to draw your conclusions. This could include national or local data sets, results from consultation and engagement activities or meetings etc. (see guidance document for internal support offer).
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Supporting data/evidence |
Source |
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Complaints data from April 2023 – September 2023 identified issues with affordability and residents struggling with hardship being able to purchase replacement bins, which impacted their ability to access the services |
MBC Complaints Data |
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Bin replacement data – review of data of replacement bins ordered over past 12 months, including whether they were purchased or provided FOC |
DASH forms |
Having considered the impact of the proposal on the general duties of the Equality Act and the impact on groups with protected characteristics, please provide a summary of the overall impact your proposal (with reference to supporting evidence):
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It was identified that the original policy to charge for all replacement broken and missing bins detrimentally impacted those facing Poverty, meaning that they may not be able to access the waste and recycling services. Removing the charges for broken bins removes this barrier to the services for those facing Poverty and ensures equality of services.
The revised policy is focused on ensuring all residents have access to a “useable” or “serviceable” bin, meaning they can use the waste and recycling services.
The complaints data will continue to be reviewed and there are options within the policy to enable residents experiencing hardship / poverty, they are able to get further support to ensure they can have the full provision of wheeled bins.
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Do you have any gaps in data or evidence to assess or understand impact?
No (please delete as appropriate and if ‘yes’ provide details below))
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Gaps in data/evidence |
Planned action to address evidence gaps |
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Do you have any plans to reduce the impact on the groups identified?
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Proposed Action/Plan |
Purpose |
Impact Groups |
Timescale |
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Monitor the orders for new subsidised bins |
Identify whether the subsidy is sufficient to enable those experiencing poverty to access the service |
Poverty |
6 months |
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Review Complaints data relating to unaffordability of bins |
Identify whether the subsidy is sufficient to enable those experiencing poverty to access the service |
Poverty |
6 months |
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Generate stock of serviceable second-hand bins |
To offer those experiencing poverty the option of a free second-hand bin |
Poverty |
3 months |
To be completed by Equalities Officer
(with Lead Officer)
Part 3: Recommendations and Sign Off
Recommendations should be based on evidence available at the time and aim to mitigate negative impacts or enhance positive impacts on any or all of the protected characteristics.
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Recommendation |
Lead Officer |
Timescale |
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