Issue - meetings

Following a report of the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces, the Environment Policy Development Group has 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.

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.

A report from the Operations Manager Street Scene and Open Spaces presenting the findings from the waste and recycling trial that was carried out between July and October 2021. 

The Group had before it a *report from the Operations Manager Street Scene & Open Spaces which presented the finding from the waste trial which was carried out between July and October 2021.

The Officer explained that the trial had been completed to see if residual waste could be reduced and recycling increased. A survey of residents had been completed at the end of the trial. During the trial staff had been made available to resolve issues and educate residents and this helped residents to comply with the scheme.

Members were informed that Officers would need a long lead in time to address residents’ concerns if the scheme were to go live and this would include engagement with landlords and tenants of houses of multiple occupancy.

During the trial the percentage of residual waste reduced and the percentage of wet recycling (food) had increased. Having the wheeled bins in the trial areas improved the street scene and reduced the amount of residual waste.

Consideration was given to:

·         The use of soft enforcement in the first instance to educate residents on the correct recycling requirements

·         Records were kept of repeated breaches and this could be used for hard enforcement (fines) if required

·         The number of houses of multiple occupancy in Cullompton which would require engagement with landlords and tenants

·         No increased instances of fly tipping had occurred during the trial

·         Large households could be offered an additional residual bin but it would be done on a case by case basis and after engagement with Officers

·         Concerns of Members that lived in rural areas that they could not drag wheelie bins up farm tracks and driveways and wanted an alternative solution for residual waste

It was therefore RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that Option 2 be approved subject to Cabinet considering alternative solutions for residual waste for properties where wheeled bins might not be an option.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes.