Issue - meetings

This report provides an update on the Waste Strategy approved by the Executive in October 2007, considers the impact of the Waste Strategy for England 2007, and recommends the adoption of a 50% recycling target for the City and action plans to achieve this.

RESOLVED:(i) That a target for Household Waste Recycling of 50% to be achieved by December 2010 be approved and, in order to achieve this, the following also be approved (subject to budget approval):

a)     A three phase roll out of Kerbside Collections across the City;

b)     Measures to improve performance on existing recycling schemes, as detailed in the report;

c)      A policy of Alternate Week Collections across all households in the City by December 2010;

                        (ii) That further reports be received on the other issues raised in the report, namely:

a)     Feasibility of introducing food waste collection services – by April 2009;

b)     Alternative arrangements to meet landfill targets beyond 2010 – by April 2009;

c)      Measures to improve sustainability in local business waste management – by April 2009;

d)     Updates on progress on implementation of resolution (i) above – by April 2009;

e)     The feasibility of expanding the range of materials collected, such as a wider range of plastics and introducing enhanced doorstep collections of materials such as batteries and CDs – by April 2009.

REASON:(i) In order to achieve compliance with the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003, improve service quality and meet the Landfill Targets for 2009/10, and minimize excedence of the landfill target beyond that date;

                        (ii) To determine additional actions needed to comply with Landfill Diversion Targets until the PFI solution is delivered, and to monitor costs.

Members received a report which provided an update on the Waste Strategy approved by the Executive in October 2007, considered the impact of the Waste Strategy for England 2007, and recommended the adoption of a 50% recycling target for the City and action plans to achieve this.

The report highlighted the following areas for further development to make significant  progress against Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS) and Household Waste recycling Act 2003 targets:

·        Improving performance, quality and efficiency of existing services;

·        Household Waste Recycling Centres permit scheme;

·        Introduction of public space recycling facilities;

·        Kitchen waste;

·        Interim waste treatment to comply with LATS;

·        Trading LATS permits in the market;

·        Consideration of enforcement and policy issues.

Members highlighted the need to investigate ways to recycle other materials or expand doorstep collections to include materials, which could only be recycled at Household Waste Recycling Sites.

Members thanked officers for their work producing the report and the other related reports on the agenda, and recognised the significant part the citizens of York had played in increasing recycling rates.

RESOLVED:(i) That a target for Household Waste Recycling of 50% to be achieved by December 2010 be approved and, in order to achieve this, the following also be approved (subject to budget approval):

a)     A three phase roll out of Kerbside Collections across the City;¹

b)     Measures to improve performance on existing recycling schemes, as detailed in the report;²

c)      A policy of Alternate Week Collections across all households in the City by December 2010;³

                        (ii) That further reports be received on the other issues raised in the report, namely:

a)     Feasibility of introducing food waste collection services – by April 2009;⁴

b)     Alternative arrangements to meet landfill targets beyond 2010 – by April 2009;⁵

c)      Measures to improve sustainability in local business waste management – by April 2009;⁶

d)     Updates on progress on implementation of resolution (i) above – by April 2009;⁷

e)     The feasibility of expanding the range of materials collected, such as a wider range of plastics and introducing enhanced doorstep collections of materials such as batteries and CDs – by April 2009.⁸

REASON:(i) In order to achieve compliance with the Household Waste Recycling Act 2003, improve service quality and meet the Landfill Targets for 2009/10, and minimize excedence of the landfill target beyond that date;

                        (ii) To determine additional actions needed to comply with Landfill Diversion Targets until the PFI solution is delivered, and to monitor costs.