Issue - meetings

The Corporate Director of Economy & Place to present a report which sets out the council’s current approach to waste collection methodology, steps taken to increase the recycling rate and proposals to examine models to increase it further.

Note: Annex A to this report has been made available online only, with printed copies circulated to Members, and is not included in the agenda pack.

Resolved:  (i)      That Option 3 be approved; that is, to:

a)   continue with source separated recycling as per the current model and monitor the impact of increasing the range of plastics collected;

b)   commission a review of council owned; recycling bring banks, to include materials not collected at the doorstep; and

c)   commission a more fundamental review of the cost impact of changing the collection methodology for all materials.

(ii)      That the preparation of a procurement process based on a new waste fleet be commenced, and a report brought to a future Executive meeting to approve the vehicle and service specification.

Reason:     To ensure that the council can improve the resilience of waste services by replacing a life expired fleet whilst exploring the environmental, budget and partner implications of changing the collection methodology.

The Assistant Director of Transport, Highways & Environment presented a report which set out the council’s current approach to waste collection methodology, steps taken to increase the recycling rate and proposals to examine models to increase it further, specifically via the collection of food waste and a wider range of plastics.  A WRAP report from 2009 evaluating food waste collection trials across 21 local authorities had been published on the website as Annex A to the report. 

Having worked with its supply chain, the council had changed its communications this summer, increasing the types of plastic collected at the doorstep.  Increasing this further would mean an extra collection box or collecting mixed plastics, the latter resulting in a devalued product. The full impact of this would require further detailed study.  With regard to food waste, this was already processed at Allerton Park with other organic matter for energy recovery. A separate collection to be processed for compost would place extra requirements on the council in terms of its vehicle fleet. 

The following options were available:

Option 1 – continue with source separated recycling as per the current model, monitor the impact of collecting an increased range of plastics, commission a review of recycling bring banks to focus on materials not collected at the doorstep, and continue to process food waste as part of the residual waste treatment at Allerton Park. This would enable a new fleet to be purchased and ensure that residents had opportunities to recycle all products.

Option 2 – commission a more fundamental review of the cost impact of changing collection methodology for all materials before purchasing a new fleet. This would delay fleet purchasing and might require re-negotiation of current contracts with providers.

Option 3 – commit to option 1 in terms of procuring a new fleet but commission option 2 to inform future policy and decision making. This was the recommended option.

The Executive Member for Environment & Climate Change welcomed the proposals, highlighting the improvements to council communications on waste and the need to reduce as well as recycle.  Having noted the comments made under Public Participation, it was

Resolved:  (i)      That Option 3 be approved; that is, to:

a)   continue with source separated recycling as per the current model and monitor the impact of increasing the range of plastics collected;

b)   commission a review of council owned; recycling bring banks, to include materials not collected at the doorstep; and

c)   commission a more fundamental review of the cost impact of changing the collection methodology for all materials.

(ii)      That the preparation of a procurement process based on a new waste fleet be commenced, and a report brought to a future Executive meeting to approve the vehicle and service specification.

Reason:     To ensure that the council can improve the resilience of waste services by replacing a life expired fleet whilst exploring the environmental, budget and partner implications of changing the collection methodology.