[To discuss and make recommendations on the delivery of the Waste Strategy 2018-2028.  The strategy approved by Cabinet is attached.  Ross Cook (Service Director City Environment) and Mike Butler (Lead Officer Waste) will be in attendance]

The Lead Officer for Waste gave a presentation on the Waste Strategy 2018-2028.  There were huge challenges surrounding waste management which were increasing each year.  The Council needed to shape its service requirements to be efficient and effective but by still meeting the community needs, legislative needs and financial and operational responsibilities.  There was a significant amount of legislative requirements which were often difficult to balance against each other.  The development and subsequent implementation of the waste strategy over the next ten years would ensure the timely provision of facilities and services that maximised the sustainable benefits for the community and support regeneration and growth in the City.  

The Lead Officer for Waste said the services would be transferred from contractor Amey back in-house to the Council on 1 September 2018.  There was a huge programme being undertaken, involving approximately 40 Officers, to make it a smooth transition.  The move to alternate week collections for general waste would be phased and implementation would commence in October 2018.  There was an assumption that this would be completed in time for Christmas 2018.  The introduction of the subscription garden waste service would commence in February 2019.  Applications for the service would be able to be made from October 2018 and the bins for the service would be delivered from January 2019.  There were no perceived changes to the dry recycling collection service and so the fortnightly collection service would remain in place. 

The Lead Officer for Waste stated the waste hold recycling offer would be reviewed and improved with an agreed position in place by April 2021.  A major project to develop and deliver waste management facilities would commence early next year.  This could include in 2027, replacements for waste transfer stations and the energy from waste contract arrangements. 

The Lead Officer for Waste stated the strategy also covered the consolidation of the Council’s collection and support operations onto a single site by September 2021.  The proposal was to make the maximum use of the Council owned five-acre site at Hickman Avenue.  The Council in the future was aiming for a zero waste to landfill service. 

A Member of the Panel asked if Ward Members would be informed of the precise dates when the changes to the waste services would take place within their Ward areas.  The Lead Officer for Waste stated that elected members would be kept informed as part of a full communications programme. 

The Cabinet Member for City Environment stated that the new subscription based garden waste collection service would provide those who subscribed with a purple coloured bin.  People could have multiple purple bins, but they would be charged at £35.00 each per annum.  The Council were trying to encourage people to compost as much as possible. There was also the option of people taking their garden waste to the HWRC (Household Waste Recycling Centre).  The current household green coloured bins would no longer be able to be used for garden waste.  People who wanted a larger bin for general waste, if they notified the Council, could use their current green coloured bin for this purpose and their brown coloured bin would be removed. If they didn’t need a larger bin for general waste the green coloured bin would be removed, leaving them with their current brown coloured bin for general waste.  Everyone would retain their black coloured bin for recycling.

A Member of the Panel asked what was being done to educate people about the appropriate use of the different coloured household bins.  The Lead Officer for Waste responded a major programme of education was commencing from January next year.  Nationally the Blue Planet and Sky Ocean Programmes were changing public attitudes towards recycling.  A Member of the Panel asked if the Council could make it clearer to the public the types of supermarket like packaging which could be recycled.  The Lead Officer confirmed that this would form part of the education programme. 

A Member of the Panel referred to the high recycling rates in some countries like New Zealand which was at over 90%.  He wanted the Council to push for higher recycling rates.  The Lead Officer for Waste stated the Government had a target of eliminating all avoidable plastic waste completely by 2042.  The Council aimed to continue to improve its recycling rates over the next ten years. 

Members commented that waste and recycling needs had to be taken into account when housebuilding.  Innovative solutions, such as underground storage of bins, could be implemented working in conjunction with the planning and city environment teams.   There was much to learn from some European countries in how they handled waste. 

The Lead Officer for Waste referred to the Council owned site at Hickman Avenue.  There was potential for this site to be adapted in 2021 to allow the consolidation of the Council’s collection and support operations.  A Highways solution was being worked on for the site.  Any proposals would have to go through a detailed consultation process.  The Cabinet Member encouraged all Members of the Panel and Local Members to visit the site at Hickman Avenue, with the Lead Officer for Waste, if they had not already been on a site visit.  

A Member of the Panel asked if there were any plans to improve the trade waste service.  In response the Lead Officer for Waste said they were looking to review the service next year. 

Resolved:

A)    That the Vibrant and Sustainable Scrutiny Panel receive a briefing note at their meeting on the 6 December 2018 detailing the arrangements for the Christmas waste collection service. 

B)    That the Vibrant and Sustainable Scrutiny Panel undertake an evaluation of the Waste Management Delivery Plan at their meeting on 28 February 2019.