Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Climate Change which outlined the new statutory requirements for local authority waste management functions arising from the Environment Act 2021 and associated regulations, collectively termed Simpler Recycling reforms.

The report also sought Cabinet to consider and select from options, a favoured method for weekly separate collection of household food waste which was required to be in place by 31 March 2026 and for some larger trade waste businesses by 31 March 2025, with separate collections for smaller businesses being in line with the household weekly collection changes.

The report set out plans to make changes to the current recycling service, with the proposal to introduce co-mingling of glass into the main (blue lidded) recycling bin, which would help limit the number of receptacles for residents, improve operational efficiency and improve health and safety for Refuse and Recycling collection workforce. The proposals also allowed for the separate collection of batteries, currently a fire hazard when transported as part of residual waste loads.

The report sought approval for the commencement of the procurement processes necessary for delivery of the new food waste services, including the ordering of vehicles and caddies, procuring services for the treatment of the food waste and developing any bulk haulage arrangements that may be required, noting that the capital allocated by Government may not on its own be sufficient to deliver the scheme’s capital needs, and that the revenue support for these New Burdens was unknown at this time (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

In moving the recommendations, Councillor M Wilkes, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change commented that the proposals would be the biggest change to the service since the introduction of alternative weekly collections made over a decade ago. Operating a service that was delivered reliably and consistently to every house in the County was a significant undertaking. Collection teams already emptied more than a million bins a month through refuse, recycling and garden waste services. Bins were rarely missed, staff rarely took days off and worked in all weathers, all year round. The Council would be procuring and delivering two new containers for every household, a new fleet of collection vehicles, new treatment and disposal contracts. The introduction of food waste collections would have major environmental benefits including the reduction of net carbon emissions and the movement towards a circular economy through treatment and recycling of organic waste matter. It would provide for a significant boost to recycling performance, which was already the highest in the region. There was however a cost and there remained some uncertainty of how much of the additional costs would be covered by central government support. The capital allowance the Council were to receive was £1.2 million short of the actual cost of the new fleet and containers required for roll out. Additional revenue costs must be considered through the new burdens approach and the Council were yet to hear how this would be accommodated and, more importantly, the financial value of the support to be given.

Councillor Wilkes informed the Cabinet that he had written to DEFRA highlighting the significant challenges of delivering additional waste services, especially in financially difficult times and requested that adequate support be forthcoming. The Council would be looking to innovate wherever possible, making the most of the opportunity for change, for example the introduction of recycling opportunities for batteries and vapes. Overtime it was hoped to introduce recycling for plastic film. The Council would also be taking the significant step of removing separate boxes for the collection of glass. This would make it simpler for households to recycle, but also safer for the workforce to collect, given the manual handling challenges of lifting heavy boxes full of glass.

Councillor S McDonell, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Digital Customer Services and Procurement commented that the report marked a significant milestone for refuse and recycling services. Separate collection of food waste made strong environmental sense and should be welcomed. Councillor S McDonell spoke positively about the opportunities being taken to introduce a kerbside collection for batteries and vapes, both of which were an environmental hazard, but also a safety hazard, having caused of a number of vehicle fires.

Councillor McDonnell supported the lobbying to DEFRA to emphasise the financial burdens that the new service placed on the council. It was essential that these issues were addressed nationally with fair and appropriate funding for every council. The communication and education plans and campaign would be vital in terms of bringing people along with us for such a large scale change. Councillor McDonnell seconded the recommendations set out in the report.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.