Agenda item

Waste and Recycling Proposals

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for the Environment outlining proposals to improve the recycling and garden waste collection service.

 

 

Minutes:

18.1    Councillor Cook, Cabinet Member for Environment, introduced the report and informed Members that there had been further changes to costs since publication of the report. He informed Members that there would be an amended resolution to Cabinet which was as follows:

 

            2.1       Cabinet is asked to RESOLVE

 

2.1.1   that an investment of £135,000 per annum be approved for the lease of an additional Refuse Collection Vehicle (RCV) and crew for use on the garden waste service to be reviewed after 3 years.

 

2.1.2   that a one-off investment of £38,000 be approved to pigeon proof the recycling shed for the purpose of Health and Safety, quality of recycled material and longevity of operational equipment/building.

 

2.1.3   that business cases are developed based upon the latest information and market prices and that, where the case is beneficial, delegated authority is given to the Head of Place, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Environment to make the necessary investments:

(i)         a one-off capital investment for the upgrade of the existing aluminium/steel baler resulting in additional forecast income due to higher quality recyclates

(ii)        an investment in additional baler capacity to cater for all mixed fibres (paper and cardboard) resulting in additional forecast income due to higher quality recyclates

(iii)       a one-off investment for a communications campaign from November 2019 to market the benefits of recycling and the garden waste service our residents and promote the most effective ways of presenting waste for kerbside collection

 

2.1.4   That the proposals around a glass screen contained in para 3.13 – 3.15 are noted, and that if after further monitoring the situation there is a clear business case for implementation then the power to purchase the necessary equipment is delegated to the Head of Place.

 

18.2    Councillor Wilson agreed with the need to make the investment and queried if there were any other plans to promote take up of the service other than flyers. Councillor Cook stated that, with the increase in housing he would anticipate a greater take up over the coming years.

 

18.3    In response to a query from Councillor Stephens regarding whether the original business case had changed substantially, Councillor Cook advised that prices of recyclables had flutuated and that there was difficulty in predicting such prices. He further advised that the business case would be examined when new figures came back.

 

18.4    Councillor Haigh stated the importance of communicating change but that many leaflets could be expensive and would have an environmental impact. She noted that marketing would commence in November and asked that either the changes be postponed or that they be advised through another means. Councillor Cook stated the marketing was timed to coincide with providing advice on Christmas collections as the primary cost was postage but that other ideas such as communicating it alongside council tax statements could be considered.

 

18.5    Councillor Pullen stated that he supported the investment and hoped that prices would not be raised. Councillor Cook stated that the desire was to increase demand and that raising prices could have the opposite effect.

 

18.6    RESOLVED that:- The Overview and Scrutiny Committee NOTE the report.

 

 

 

           

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