The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “X”) provides a description of the current management of waste, and gives an update on the work programmes undertaken in 2018, and those planned for 2019, to improve the management of waste to more sustainable levels in line with the Waste Strategy (Municipal Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy 2015).

Recommended –

That Regeneration and Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee consider the information presented in Document “X” and request a further progress report in twelve months’ time.

(Susan Spink – 01274 434779)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “X”) provided a description of the current management of waste, and gave an update on the work programmes undertaken in 2018, and those planned for 2019, to improve the management of waste to more sustainable levels in line with the Waste Strategy (Municipal Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy 2015).

The Assistant Director of Waste, Fleet and Transport Services was accompanied by the Principal Officer and they jointly gave a detailed synopsis of the report. The Council had statutory responsibilities for waste streams which were currently managed by waste services. These streams included, kerbside collections of recycling from residents; kerbside collections of residual household waste from residents; bulky waste collections upon request from residents (paid for service); clinical waste collections upon request; and, provision of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across the district; closed Landfill site monitoring. In addition to waste services, it also provided the services, which included kerbside collection of garden waste (a non-statutory paid for service upon request); chemical advisory services to residents; trade waste services to commercial businesses (paid for service); and clinical waste collections to commercial businesses (paid for service).

The services were provided by in house operations which were supported by several external contracts with the private sector for treatment of recycling, residual waste and disposal services.

Following introduction, a question and answer session ensued:

·         In regards to recycling champions, was data available on the various languages spoken by individuals in different communities?

o   No specific data was recorded but there were individuals who spoke languages other than English. Occasionally, Google translator was utilised for communication needs;

·         •With alternate week collections, there were community residents’ who continued to refrain from recycling. How was this being tackled?

o   In inner city wards with significant terraced housing, it was dependent on whether residents had the correct bins and with their house numbers marked on their bins. The service was working closely with Ward Officers to assist in driving the behavioural change of recycling;

·         With supermarkets incentives of returning bottles and other recycling waste for additional club card shopping points, would this affect the Council’s contracts?

o   Unless tonnes of waste was being returned to supermarkets. The incentives by supermarkets was a marginal impact but any recycling would be a positive factor;

·         It seemed that current operations were not effective to the extent that there was significant side waste on the streets on a weekly basis. Would it make a difference if the service worked closely with in Incommunities for the purpose of providing better waste disposal sites?

o   There was ongoing work with Incommunities and they acknowledged the fact that some tenants were not abiding with advice on recycling. Nevertheless, Incommunities continued to assist the Council in its work; and,

·         Was the Waste Strategy (Municipal Waste Minimisation and Management Strategy 2015) being revised at this present stage?

o   Yes the strategy was currently being redrafted. The government was about to publish the new strategy and the service wanted to cover all elements in line with government recommendations.

Resolved –

(1)       That a further progress report be presented to this Committee in           12 months time.

(2)       That the draft Municipal Waste and Minimisation Strategy be       presented to this Committee.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place