Decision details

Following a *report of the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces, the Environment Policy Development Group had made the following recommendation: that Option 2 be approved subject to Cabinet considering alternative solutions for residual waste for properties where wheeled bins might not be an option.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change outlined the contents of the report highlighting the Waste Strategy, the need for change and the pilot scheme that had taken place for 3 weekly waste collections over a three month period across varied locations in the district.  The proposal was not just about saving money but reducing residual waste and increasing recycling.  He referred to the issue raised at the Policy Development Group with regard to wheeled bins not being an option and other alternatives that could be considered

Consideration was given to:

·         How residents would manage in built up areas to keep residual waste for three weeks

·         If dry recycling was increased whether this would impact on the capacity of the current fleet

·         Whether the trial results had improved recycling rates and whether the authority was losing income if residents used supermarket recycling skips or the recycling centres

·         Whether the authority were considering the recycling of soft plastics

·         Capacity issues and the provision of additional bins

·         Option 2 would bring the authority in line with the super aligned option documents in the Devon and Torbay Waste Strategy which would create opportunities for joint working in the future

·         The lack of detail in the Equality Impact Assessment and the need to consider the disposal of offensive waste

·         The various options available and whether a weekly recycling scheme could improve recycling rates

·         Officers would consider alternative solutions for properties where wheeled bins were not an option as part of the operational matters to be discussed in the action plan leading up to the implementation of the scheme

·         Project details could be presented to members via a briefing session

RESOLVED that Option 2 be approved subject to officers considering alternative solutions for residual waste for properties where wheeled bins may not be an option, subject to a specific requirement to see a detailed plan to address the issues raised before full implementation.

(Proposed by Cllr B A Moore and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Reason for the decision – As there was a need to consider that the current regime would ultimately incur additional costs to the Council, there was a need to consider options available to reduce costs and increase recycling rates.

Notes: 

i)             Cllrs R J Chesterton and Mrs N Woollatt requested that their abstention from voting be recorded;

ii)            *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.