Agenda item

For the Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee to pre-scrutinise the Government Waste Strategy consultation responses report, which is due to be considered at the Decision Day of the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at 14:00 on 23 April 2019.

The Committee received the report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment setting out proposed responses to Government Waste Strategy consultations.

Members heard that:

•           The New Waste Strategy has been updated for the first time since 2007 and has systemic implications especially regarding packaging waste.

•           The paper summarizes the context for the council and partners, recycling targets, and EU legislation.

•           The Government will publish further papers based on initial assessment, results, and further consultations. 

•           The final decision and legislation will take place in 2021 and be implemented in 2023 for consistency across all councils in the collection of recycled materials, garden trash, food waste, hazardous waste, etc.

•           There will be a review of cost effectiveness, fiduciary and producer responsibility will be part of further consultations, and full net cost recovery is expected but full clarity not available.

•           The County Council was broadly supportive of scheme but cautious about exactly what new systems will be put into place.

•           Quality, materials, and contamination of recyclables were key, which is determined by the collection, possible comingling, and sorting method.

•           The percentage of recycled content in new products and the prevention of littering in rural areas were key.

•           Different needs of rural vs urban areas in terms of collection of food waste, areas for bins, etc.

•           Waste must be viewed as a resource to effectively and successfully manage disposal, recycling, reuse, etc.

•           Partnerships with local building authority will allow for managing further waste, such as the significant waste the building of each new home.

Members queried as to the advantages, disadvantages, and associated costs of various systems of collection, waste mileage, carbon footprint of collections, preventing contamination of recyclables, infrastructure changes that may be required, public education and buy-in, penalties, new bin storage challenges and possible recycling of redundant ones.

Members discussed the benefits of a simplified, standardized process and efforts to engage and educate the public in limiting waste and maximizing recycling efforts. Future consultations must be robust and lead ultimately to a successful scheme with full funding to undertake appropriate infrastructure and implement changes.

Chairman encouraged further engagement from Members as the consultancy remained open for responses.

RESOLVED:

i)          That the Economy, Transport & Environment Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport these being:

1. That the Executive Member for Environment and Transport notes the content and potential impacts of the Government’s four waste consultations as set out in this report and endorses the key principles in relation to each consultation to form a basis for the County Council’s detailed response.

2. That the Executive Member for Environment and Transport approves the next steps for submission, set out in this report, to include a written letter from the Leader of the County Council to the Government setting out the key principles.

3. That authority is delegated to the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment to make all necessary arrangements to approve the detailed responses to be submitted to Government.

ii)         That the Committee requests a copy of the Leader’s cover letter to the Government as outlined in 2. above.