Agenda item

The Panel will receive a verbal update on this item from the Waste Services Manager.

The Waste Services Manager introduced this item to the Panel. She informed them that since they had written a draft action plan the Government had announced a £250m support fund for weekly collections and they were therefore analysing how best to apply for some of the funding. She added that today she wished to tell the Panel about their plans for the next three years (2102 – 2015).

She stated that the main criteria for involvement in the fund was retaining weekly collections of residual waste and proposing improvements towards the Environment and in relation to Sustainability. The Council must also show value for money, performance improvement, reduction in littering, a customer focus and a reduction in bin blight.

She advised that if successful, the Council must commit to a further five years of weekly collections and with the current alignment of contracts due to expire in 2017 this decision must therefore be taken carefully.

She explained that they plan to introduce a new service that would collect small electrical appliances alongside the Green Box collections. She believed that in time this service could be accommodated through existing resources.

She then showed the Panel a large protective bag that would be used to store black sacks alongside smaller carrier bags to prevent scavenging from gulls or other similar animals.

The Chairman asked if they were water proof.

The Waste Services Manager replied that they were shower proof. She then continued by showing the Panel a mini recycling centre bag and explained that more of these would be sought under the fund.

She stated that some items can escape from a Green Box to cause a litter problem as lids are not currently routinely given out, so as well as seeking more lids a trial will be given to some flexible / mesh covers.

She spoke of how the campaign and educational work would increase through targeted door knocking and work in Secondary schools on recycling.

She explained that the use of real nappies was also to be encouraged and identified that the current main barrier on this issue was their cost.

She concluded by explaining that an expression of interest had to be registered by Friday 16^th March and that if the Council were minded to, a bid would need to be submitted in August 2012 and a decision on those bids would then be given in October 2012.

Councillor Douglas Nicol asked if wormeries had been considered as part of the on-going educational work.

The Waste Services Manager replied that they had been offered to schools a number of years ago, but had proved to not be very successful.

Councillor Neil Butters asked how many of the protective sacks would be purchased.

The Waste Services Manager replied that they would be applying for around 5,000 sacks, this could then be increased if they were received positively.

Councillor Malcolm Hanney asked how much money was the Council applying for from the fund.

The Waste Services Manager replied that it would be applying for £300,000 of funding.

Councillor Caroline Roberts asked why they were choosing protective sacks over wheelie bins.

The Waste Services Manager replied that the use of wheelie bins would slow collections down and increase costs. She added that wheelie bins are also not suitable for all properties.

Councillor David Martin commented that he can normally fill his own recycling box within a week and therefore wondered if any thought had been given to providing households with bigger boxes.

The Waste Services Manager replied that bigger boxes could not be supplied on Health & Safety grounds, but that households could ask to have additional boxes.

The Chairman on behalf of the Panel thanked her for the update.