Decision details

Following a report of the Operations Manager for Street Scene, the Environment Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations:

a)    That the proposed amendment to reduce the waste prevention target to 400kg/head/year by 2030 be approved and;

b)    The final Strategy be approved

The Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change outlined the contents of the report stating that the draft Resource and Waste Strategy for Devon and Torbay was published for consultation in March 2021, 214 responses had been received.  The Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee had resolved that the strategy be endorsed and recommended for final approval to the partner authorities.  He made reference to Government proposals and how any legislation might impact on the strategy; once the Government had confirmed its position, the strategy could be reviewed to see if any changes were required.

Consideration was given to:

·         The Deposit Return Scheme and the position highlighted within the strategy with regard to concerns about the implications on collection authorities and whether the cost of the proposed scheme was justified as the initiative could reduce the Devon recycling rate by 0.7% and whether this approach was justified when the scheme could actually increase recycling and reduce littering

·         The use of Smart Bins

·         Whether there was an omission from the strategy in that the authority should be working with the planning department with regard to new developments

·         Whether the recycling of textiles in collection bins were being exported

RESOLVED that the recommendation of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr D J Knowles)

Reason for the decision - the Authority has a duty to arrange collection for household waste

Note: *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.