Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Environment.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 June 2016 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Assistant Director Environment was submitted to present the Council’s Recycling Plan for 2016-2021 and to review progress made since adoption of the 2011-2016 plan. Members were advised that the Business Case for the introduction of a food waste collection service would be brought to Members in due course.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 June 2016 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED that Executive approve the Recycling Plan 2016-2021.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Environment.

The Assistant Director Environment referred to the Council’s Recycling Plan for the period 2016-2021 and provided Members with an update on the progress made since adoption of the 2011-2016 plan, and an action plan for the year ahead. The measures outlined in the plan would reduce the environmental impact of Exeter’s waste and put the City Council in a stronger position to contribute towards the UK’s 2020 recycling target, with the remaining principle of the provision of a high quality, easy to use recycling service.

A number of key areas of recycling were highlighted including the development of a business case for a food waste collection scheme in the year ahead. Food waste typically made up a third of black bin waste and its removal would substantially increase the recycling rate.  A further aspiration was to continue to develop greater support and guidance in the community particularly for students and tenants in the social rented sector.  A Member suggested that a food waste scheme would require a significant investment as well as encouragement of those households who did not currently recycle.  The Assistant Director Environment agreed that such an investment would be required with a major change in the collection infrastructure as well as ensuring that there was good engagement by households.  The design of any scheme was particularly important.  A feasibility study would be conducted along with a business case to provide Members with the appropriate detail, options and costs. 

A Member cited examples of recycling practices in other countries including Canada and Austria which offered some immediate and longer term financial incentives for the consumer with money back for returned bottles and cans.  He also referred to issues of litter collection and separation in some bins in the city centre, and also if the street cleaners were able to separate recyclables from rubbish. The Assistant Director Environment confirmed that street cleaners did separate the waste where possible, and litter bins for recylates could work.  He agreed that many countries had a far more sophisticated recycling system in place than the UK, and that schemes such as the Member had experienced abroad would require a major national investment.

Place Scrutiny Committee noted the report and recommended Executive approval of the 2016-2021 Recycling Plan, attached as an appendix to the report.