Issue - items at meetings - Waste Management and Recycling Service Gloucester City Council

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment seeking the approval of Members for a number of investments to improve the recycling and garden waste collection service.

RESOLVED that:

(1) 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) 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.

(3) 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

(4) the proposals around a glass screen contained in para 3.13 – 3.15 of the report 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.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment that sought the approval of Members for a number of investments to improve the recycling and garden waste collection service.

The Cabinet Member for Environment outlined the key features of the report and benefits of the proposals. The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure asked if central government funding was expected for any element as this source under various schemes had previously been utilised. The Cabinet Member for Environment replied that although nothing had been identified yet, potential sources, including the county, were being explored. He gave the example of recent ministerial announcements to equip local authorities to address air quality as the sort of opportunity that may arise.