Decision details

he 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).

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.

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.

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.