Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces and the Head of People, Performance and Waste setting out future options regarding the provision of the Waste and Recycling service to the residents of Mid Devon together with proposed pilots of new services.

To receive a report * from the Operations Manager for Street Scene and Open Spaces and the Head of People, Performance and Waste building upon previous options regarding the provision of extra service provision. It also set out future options regarding the provision of the Waste and Recycling service to the residents of the District together with proposed pilots of new services.

The contents of the report were outlined and consideration was given to:

·         The report set out the future plans of the Waste Service and details were provided of the proposed pilot schemes.

·         Further updates would be provided to the Group regarding coffee pods and blister packs at future meetings.

·         The cost of the trial for recycling nappies would be approximately £4.5k. It would cost around £280k per annum to roll this scheme out fully should it be so desired following the pilot. This needed to be made financially more viable as these were significant costs. The tonnage of waste may reduce if the number of nappies in waste collections was reduced.

·         The Council had heard that the Government had a made a decision such as to allow Council’s to continue with 3 weekly collections. This was very positive news.

·         The team were looking at breaking into the top 5% nationally for recycling rates.

·         Parents needed to be encouraged to use re-useable nappies where possible and there needed to be a proactive campaign to encourage new parents in this regard. It was confirmed that this would be added into communications.

·         It was recognised that there were pro’s and con’s for using terry nappies.

·         The Council was working with ‘NappiCycle’ in Wales who had been recycling nappies successfully for a number of years.

·         It was confirmed that there was a comprehensive Waste and Recycling Strategy for next year both in terms of Christmas and looking further ahead. All campaigns would be incorporated into this

·         There was some concern that pots and pans would be put out for collection rather than taken more appropriately to recycling centres or charity shops.

RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

Trials be undertaken to introduce the following practices in the District:

·         Nappy waste collections

·         Collecting unwanted metal pots and pans

·         New house builders be charged for new bins and containers to each new property.

(Proposed by the Chair)

Reason for the decision

As set out in the report.

Note: * Report previously circulated.