Decision details

Improvements to the Recycling Collection Service

Decision Maker: Executive, Council

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:


Update on changes to the roll out of the service change for refuse and recycling collections

Decisions:

The Executive received the report on the recommended changes to the refuse and re-cycling service as a result of Covid-19 Pandemic, changes to Government guidance and changes to people’s demands on the service.

 

The Director Net Zero Exeter and City Management explained the rationale for reviewing and proposing a changed re-cycling collection service to that agreed in October 2019 prior to the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic. As a result of the Pandemic (Min. No. 93 of Executive of 8 October 2019 and Min. No. 14 of Council of 15 October 2019 refer), it had been necessary to take account of the changes in people’s shopping, work and re-cycling habits and lessons had also been learnt from the challenges being faced by neighbouring authorities in their collection service. It was considered that the revised service proposed would result in improved environmental outcomes compared to the current service, increasing the Council’s re-cycling rate and reducing net carbon emissions. It would also meet the expectations from Government and residents that food waste and, possibly glass, be included in the kerbside re-cycling service.

 

The Portfolio Holder for City Management, in commending the report, advised that in putting forward the changed scheme, regard had been made to the operational implications for staff and to the opportunities for bringing forward training and developmental schemes for employees.

 

RECOMMENDED that Council rescind its previous decision (Min. No. 93 of Executive of 8 October 2019 and Min. No. 14 of Council of 15 October 2019 refer)  to introduce a weekly kerbside-sort recycling collection, incorporating glass and food waste collections with three weekly refuse collections and adopt the following in its place: -

 

(1)  to retain fortnightly recycling and residual waste collection services and to provide an additional separate weekly food waste collection service;

 

(2)  to begin a pilot food waste collection scheme in Autumn 2021 in at least one collection area and to use the productivity information to design the full service roll out;

 

(3)  to wait for further guidance from the Government on the current consultation process for the consistency of collections, to allow the Council to work towards introducing a glass collection service from the kerbside;

 

(4)  to continue exploring options to improve MRF reliability and strategic long-term options for MRF capacity in the area;

 

(5)  the investment of £4,514,010 capital and £483,640 net revenue per annum to achieve the successful roll out of the new service; and

 

(6)  to continue using the remainder of the previously allocated £200,000 revenue budget to fund the roll out of the service changes including project management, publicity and communications.

 

 

Report author: Simon Hill

Publication date: 07/07/2021

Date of decision: 06/07/2021

Decided at meeting: 06/07/2021 - Executive

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