OFFICER DECISION

 

 

Decision: To approve a variation to the services provided under the Teckal contract between the Council and Yorwaste dated 8 April 2016 to incorporate the collection of food waste from commercial customers from 31 March 2025 onwards.

 

Decision Date: 21 March 2025

Type of Decision: Director                                         Key

 

    Non-Key

x

Portfolio Area that decision relates to:

Leader Policy, Strategy & Partnerships

 

Environment and Climate Emergency

x

Transport

 

 

Finance, Performance, Major Projects & Equalities

 

Children, Young People and Education

 

Economy and Culture

 

Health, Wellbeing and Adults Social Care

 

Housing, Planning & Safer Communities

 

Background / Decision Summary:

 

The Council operates a Commercial Waste service to many businesses across the city. The Government are introducing a range of changes which affect businesses as part of their Simpler Recycling reforms under the Environment Act 2021. The Government intend that Simpler Recycling will enable consistent, more streamlined collections from all households, businesses and relevant non-domestic premises (such as schools and hospitals). These changes start to come into effect from 31st March 2025.  

 

The Simpler Recycling reforms require businesses to separate their waste as part of new legislation. The changes are being introduced over a two-year period and are dependent on the size of the business and whether that business is a food producing business.

 

In practice, this means that businesses will need to separate and recycle their waste and/or have food waste collections as part of these reforms. The Council provides refuse and recycling collections but does not have the facility to offer food waste collections currently. Therefore, the Council is seeking to amend the Teckal contract with Yorwaste so that food waste collections can be offered to CYC commercial waste customers as part of our offer of waste collection services. All food waste collected will be treated at a dedicated anaerobic digestion facility. The food waste that is treated is used to create an array of renewable products including biomethane gas used for fuel and the creation of soil boosting bio-fertilizer for the agriculture sector.

 

Providing a food waste collection will enable the Commercial Waste Service to offer customers a fully compliant waste collection service. Businesses have the choice to select their preferred waste collector. By adapting to these changes, the Commercial Waste Service remains compliant with UK law and competitive in the market place.  It is acknowledged that there will be financial implications, but these cannot at present be identified; however, the Assistant Director, Finance has indicated that he is content for the matter to be approved as-is (see attached e-mail).

 

 

Options Considered:

 

To vary the services provided under the Teckal contract with Yorwaste dated 8 April 2016 to incorporate the collection of food waste from commercial customers from 31 March 2025 onwards to ensure that CYC can offer a food waste service to its commercial waste customers and comply with the Simpler Recycling reforms implemented under the Environment Act 2021.

 

Options Rejected:

 

Not to offer a food waste collection offer to our customers. This option was rejected as (i) the Council has a duty to comply with the Simpler Recycling legislation and (ii) if the Council does not offer a food waste collection service it will not be meeting its customers’ needs and it would threaten the commercial viability of the service.

 

Consultation Process:

 

Consultation has been undertaken with other local authorities including close liaison with North Yorkshire Council and also with Yorwaste. The Council has engaged with DEFRA to clarify elements of the new legislation. The Council has engaged with internal teams affected by the change to legislation and also external customers to whom we deliver our commercial waste service to ensure affected businesses are aware of the changes and new reforms.

 

Implications

Crime & Disorder

 

 

Equalities

 

Highways

 

Human Resources

 

 

Legal

 

ICT

 

Financial

 

x

Affordability

 

Property

 

Climate Change

 

 

Health

 

Other

 

Environment

 

x

Human Rights

 

 

 

Implications Contact:

 

 

 

 

 

Ben Grabham (Head of Environmental Services)

Level of Risk:

 

 

 

 

 

Low

 

 

 

Wards Affected:


All Wards

x

Fishergate

 

Holgate

 

Rural West York

 

Acomb

 

Fulford & Heslington

 

Hull Road

 

Strensall

 

Bishopthorpe

 

Guildhall

 

Huntington & New Earswick

 

Westfield

 

Clifton

 

Haxby & Wigginton

 

Micklegate

 

Wheldrake

 

Copmanthorpe

 

Heworth

 

Osbaldwick & Derwent

 

 

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe

 

Heworth Without

 

Rawcliffe & Clifton

 

 

 

 

 

Comments/Observations:

Decision:   To approve the variation of the services provided under the Teckal contract with Yorwaste dated 8 April 2016 to incorporate the collection of food waste from commercial customers from 31 March 2025.

 

Reason: To ensure that CYC can offer a food waste collection service to its commercial waste customers and comply with the Simpler Recycling reforms implemented under the Environment Act 2021.

 

Decision Made by:    A signature of a person  AI-generated content may be incorrect.

                                     Director of Governance and Monitoring Officer

Date:        21 March 2025

Contact Details: bryn.roberts@york.gov.uk

 

To be implemented by:

Head of Environmental Services