Issue - meetings

Further to a report of the Interim Group Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces, the Environment Policy Development Group has made the following recommendations that:

·         The options in the report be considered; and

·         Authority should be given for the Service to complete a trial to a limited number (around 1000) of households for a minimum of three months

Further to a report of the Interim Group Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces, the Environment Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations that:

·         The options in the report be considered; and

·         Authority should be given for the Service to complete a trial to a limited number (around 1000) of households for a minimum of three months

The Cabinet Member for the Environment outlined the contents of the report stating that the suggested changes to the current scheme had been discussed with advisors and meetings had taken place with East Devon District Council with regard to the scheme that they were running and consideration of any best practice.  Four options had been put forward, this was not about saving money but increasing recycling in line with Government guidelines to recycle 65% of household waste by 2035 and Devon’s proposed 60% target by 2025. He outlined the proposed trial which would take place in urban and rural areas (which would include some specific areas that had special issues) and it was hoped that the trial would increase recycling which was cost effective.

Consideration was given to:

·         Other districts that had implemented 3 weekly residual waste collections and whether they had fortnightly collections of recycling or whether they had weekly recycling collections

·         The need for an additional option to include residual - 3 weekly, chargeable garden waste -  2 weekly, food – weekly, recycling -  weekly, with a residual waste -  residents’ receptacle or sacks, as there was a need to look at all the options for a complete trial.  It was agreed that this should be considered as part of the trial.

·         The cost implications of the various options

·         Whether special circumstances would be considered depending on the number of people/children in a residence

·         Capacity to store waste prior to collection

·         Whether the amount of waste to be collected would be capped

·         How the collection lorries would be used

·         The amount of brown bins being stored at the depot

·         Opportunities to reduce the current carbon footprint

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

(Proposed by Cllr C R Slade and seconded by Cllr Miss E Wainwright)

Reason for decision – there is a need to increase recycling in the District in line with Government guidelines to recycle 65% of household waste by 2035 and Devon’s proposed 60% target rate by 2025.

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

To consider a report presenting possible options for future Waste and Recycling collection arrangements following a review carried out by WYG Consultancy. 

The Group had before it a *report of the Interim Group Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces which reviewed the need to increase recycling in the District in line with the government guidelines to recycle 65% of household waste by 2035 and Devon’s proposed 60% target rate by 2025.

The Officer explained possible options for future waste and recycling collections following a review carried out by WYG Consultancy including a proposed trial to ascertain viability.

He explained that East Devon District Council was one of the first to move to 3 weekly collections in 2015 and he and the Cabinet Member for the Environment were due to meet with their officers to discuss the benefits and pitfalls of the scheme.

He gave a background to the proposed trial and explained that it would take place in both urban and rural areas. He explained that pre and post surveys would take place.

Consideration was given to:

·         Members concerns with regard to the ability of some communal areas to store bins and the need to individually assess these properties for alternative solutions

·         Members concerns about the numbers of disposable nappies which would accumulate over a 3 week period and if there were any schemes available to recycle these

·         The need to increase the education programme and getting the message to school children

·         The increased costs and carbon footprint of increasing recycling collections to weekly

·         The importance of following up education with enforcement for people who do not comply

It was therefore RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

·         The options in the report be considered; and

·         Authority should be given for the Service to complete a trial to a limited number (around 1000) of households for a minimum of three months

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Reason for the Decision – To enable the Council to increase its household recycling rates in line with government guidelines.

Notes:

    i.)        Cllrs W Burke and L D Taylor requested that their abstention from voting be recorded

   ii.)        *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes