Agenda item

To consider the report of the Cleansing and Fleet Manager

The Cleansing and Fleet Manager presented a report which updated Members on the City Council’s current performance in waste reduction and recycling, and the reasons for current trends.  It also provided an update on progress on the annual Recycling Plan, and sought ongoing support for the Council’s recycling initiatives which were necessary to progress towards the City Council’s recycling target set out in the corporate work programme.  The report also provided an update on consideration for a food waste collection; garden waste collections; home composting; commercial waste recycling, aspects of behavioural change in recycling, and an update on initiatives to encourage households in Exeter including tenants to recycle more.  The Director (DB) referred to the Council’s efforts to increase the general service of recycling which remained a top priority.

A Member referred to his ward, which included a significant student population and welcomed the valuable co-operation with the University.  He also enquired if the Council’s Recycling Officer might be able to encourage younger members of society to recycle.

The Cleansing and Fleet Manager responded to the following points –

·         the Community Infrastructure Levy has the potential to fund initiatives to improve the storage and on-street presentation of waste in the residential and commercial areas of central Exeter.

·         residents were encouraged not to place their rubbish out too early for collection particularly where only a black sack option was available, and to bag appropriately to safeguard against rats and seagulls.  If the collection of food waste was made available to residents an appropriate food waste caddy with a lockable lid would be made available. 

• he would check the 48% figure of material recycled from the commercial recycling scheme and confirm with Members.  It had been a challenge to persuade businesses to use the commercial waste and mixed recycling collection, and this figure had risen from a low base since mixed recycling collections had been offered. A more competitive pricing structure now made this service more attractive than a single rubbish collection.

·         he gave an undertaking to take on the suggestion of improved labelling of the recycling bins, particularly useful for householders new to the area, and would take the opportunity of a refresh of the information, which could be achieved at a relatively low cost and carried out by staff when on their rounds.

·         there had been a 6% growth in the brown bin scheme following significant promotion. Sales of brown bins had contributed to the recycling rate, year on year, and the anticipated new housing and gardens would offer scope to continue to grow the customer base and make the whole scheme even more cost effective. 

·         he had noted a Member’s comment of the bin warden’s audit made by the University at the start of the academic year, and perhaps this was an area to foster even greater co-operation working with the university.

A Member referred to frequent visits to deposit paper for recycling and her appreciation of the hard work of staff at the Material Reclamation Facility (MRF), they did a magnificent job and she wished to ensure that the Place Scrutiny Committee record their appreciation.

Place Scrutiny Committee noted the current trends on waste reduction and recycling, and supported the ongoing actions planned for 2017/18.