Issue - meetings

The report of the Assistant Director Environmentwas submitted advising of the 2016/17 Recycling Plan. Members were advised that the Citizen and Insight Magazines were valuable tools in educating and informing the public in waste reduction and that continued community engagement was vital to encourage further re-cycling. Officers would continue to explore the feasibility of introducing a food waste collection service in association with the Disposal Authority (Devon County Council) and, in particular, examine how the potential savings in disposals costs could be used to fund such a service.   

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Place commented that there was an in principle agreement with Devon County Council regarding the disposal of food waste although the details of how the costs would be shared had yet to be worked through.

In response to Members, the Assistant Director Environment clarified that work would be undertaken through community engagement programmes in order to encourage people to buy perishable foods more carefully, to store them appropriately, and re-use leftovers for another meal. Residents would also be encouraged to compost more food waste, individually or as part of a community project. 

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Place commented that there was an in principle agreement with Devon County Council regarding the sharing of savings from waste diversion schemes, although the details of how the costs would be shared had yet to be worked through.

In response to Members, the Assistant Director Environment clarified that there would be a greater emphasis on behavioural change through community engagement programmes in the year ahead. This work would seek to overcome some of the simple barriers to recycling (e.g. confusion over whether a can needs to be thoroughly washed for recycling), and encourage waste minimisation, e.g. reducing food waste by careful purchasing of perishable foods, storing them appropriately, and re-using leftovers for another meal. Residents would also be encouraged to compost more food waste, individually or as part of a community project. 

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 1 March 2016 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED that Council approves the Recycling Plan for 2016/17.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Environment.

Councillor Owen spoke on this item having given notice under Standing Order No. 44.

The Assistant Director Environment presented the report setting out the 2016/17 Recycling Plan for support and approval.

Members noted that, although the re-cycling rates could be improved, actual landfill rates were low and that the City Council was within the 20 lowest of 200 authorities in total waste production.

Both the Portfolio Holder for Health and Place and the Assistant Director Environment confirmed that the Citizen was a valuable tool in educating and informing the public in waste reduction techniques and that continued community engagement was vital to encourage further re-cycling. It was noted that an A5 pamphlet had recently been distributed to community outlets such as doctor’s surgeries.

A report on the feasibility of kerb side collections of glass had previously been reported to this Committee. As the fraction of glass remaining in black bags was only 4%, this indicated that the network of bottle banks in the City were well used, achieving similar rates of glass recycling to those districts with a kerb-side glass collection. Therefore the cost and benefit of introducing a kerb-side glass collection service was unlikely to be favourable.

In answer to a question about food waste, the Assistant Director Environment explained that food waste was a large fraction of the residual (black bin) waste stream in Exeter, at around 35% of the total content. This was the main reason why Exeter’s recycling rate appeared much lower than other local authorities with a food waste collection. However, the cost of providing a food waste collection service from every household would be significant, but it would make substantial savings in the disposal cost of that food waste, as it would be processed more cheaply through anaerobic digesters rather than burnt at the Energy from Waste Plant. Officers would continue to explore the feasibility of introducing such a collection service in association with the Disposal Authority (Devon County Council), and in particular examine how the potential savings in disposal costs could be used to help fund such a service.

In the absence of a food waste collection service the Council would need to rely on changing householders’ behaviour through education and a community engagement programmes, in order to encourage people to buy perishable foods more carefully, to store them appropriately, and re-use leftovers for another meal etc. People could also be encouraged to compost more food waste, either individually or as part of a community project.

Scrutiny Committee Community supported the Recycling Plan for 2016 and requested its approval by Executive and Council.