Skip to main content

Agenda item

Public Question Time (00-07-00)

To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

 

Minutes:

Mrs Lock referring to Minute 23 of the Environment Report - the three weekly waste collection stated that:

 

I live in one of the three communities that has taken part in the three weekly black bag waste collection trial, can you tell me what the conclusions have been reached following the trial?

 

The current Administration ran a petition to ‘Stop Mid Devon District Council reducing refuse collection services’, which I notice 76 people signed and also called for the previous Administration to scrap the idea of three weekly collections.

 

Bob Evans then Opposition Leader said they “oppose reducing this service and had refused to consider it while they ran the Council.” Is this still the case? If so, how does this Council intend to meet the Government’s target of 65% recycling of household waste by 2035?

 

In response the Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change stated that: Waste and Recycling is responsible for delivering critical statutory front line services to the public but also for helping deliver on vital environment targets.

These targets include reducing refuse collection rates and increasing recycling rates, both of which are crucial to the reduction of our carbon footprint.

To achieve such a reduction in our carbon footprint we need to examine the relationship between refuse collection and recycling rates so the necessary changes happen that will allow the target regarding our carbon footprint to be reached. As part of this work we have piloted trials of three weekly residual waste collections in the wards of Holcombe Rogus and Westleigh as well as the area in and around Canal Hill in Tiverton.

The trials concluded last week and there will now be careful consideration of the data that has been compiled during this pilot period to inform decisions around next steps. This information will be publicised ahead of the relevant meetings taking place as is standard practice. There were 5 options on the table and there are still 5 options on the table, no decision has been made at this time and the outcomes of the trial will be reported to the PDG and Cabinet.

 

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property Services also responded stating that my comments were raised to the then Portfolio Holder, Councillor Taylor at the Environment PDG in September 2019.  Councillor Taylor indicated that consideration of the trial was being looked at as a cost saving exercise as can be seen in the minutes of the meeting.  My comments also included a statement what is not quoted, that I believe that the reduction of waste per household would be equally if not of greater benefit as would putting pressure on supermarkets to reduce their waste, these comments were supported by other Members outside of my political group at that meeting.  The scheme at that time focussed on a very short cost saving exercise and had no detail, so yes I was opposed to the scheme as it was presented at that time.

 

We are now 2 years on and today’s scheme has a greater focus on waste reduction and, as well as seeking to reduce and recycle more of the waste that is produced.  I now await the detail of the trial with interest and the consideration of Environment PDG members and future debate at both Cabinet and Full Council.