Agenda item

The Head of Operations submitted a report outlining a proposal to introduce a chargeable green waste service alongside a weekly food collection prior to consideration of a joint waste contract with North Herts Council.  She provided a summary of the report.

Councillor G Cutting sought and was provided with clarification on how the service currently worked and the concept of a weekly food collection.  He expressed concern about the impact this would have on people living in flats and houses in multiple occupation.

The Waste Services Manager explained that 47% of all food waste was still wrapped and explained that food caddies would be collected weekly from a 3 litre container.  The Head of Operations reiterated how the current collections worked and explained that 30% of residents surveyed would either be very likely or quite likely to pay up to £40 a year for the service with 70% stating that they would be unlikely to take up the service.  The Head of Operations commented that an indicative sum of £35 was what other Hertfordshire authorities charged. 

Councillor H Drake stated that she felt that this was a reduction in service as food was already placed in the black bins.  Councillor N Symonds felt that the approach was being driven by the joint waste contract with North Herts who had yet to make a decision. 

The Waste Services Manager explained how the service could be applied in terms of people with disabilities and those living in flats and houses in multiple occupation and how operatives would know whose container to collect aided by stickers and PDAs.  He commented that the proposal would ensure that waste food was properly and safely composted and not disposed of in black bins which went to landfill.  In response to a query from the Chairman regarding modifications to vehicles, the Waste Services Manager explained that a new contract was about to begin and that Officers would need to review new vehicles.

Councillor G Cutting referred to the waste recycling site in Bishop’s Stortford and stated that its closure two days a week was very frustrating, adding that people visited the site not just to compost things but to dispose of rubble, furniture, etc.  He referred to the impact of more homes in Bishop’s Stortford and asked Officers to work with Hertfordshire County Council to facilitate more sociable opening hours before matters became acute.  The Head of Operations acknowledged the issues of the centre and assured Members that she was working with the Herts Waste Partnership to explore more effective ways to deliver the service. 

Members queried the driver behind this new green collection service.  The Head of Operations confirmed that this would contribute to the gap in the medium term financial plan and would facilitate a reduction in the amount of food waste that went to landfill which could be composted.

Councillor G Cutting stated he was not convinced about the need to provide this service adding that Members needed to be provided with more information and have more clarity on the issue.  The Waste Services Manager provided an overview on the legislation about managing food waste and other waste materials and what could and could not be composted.

Members debated at length, the issue around the food collection, green waste collection and the technical aspects of collection / no collection and the associated issues.  At the conclusion of the debate, a number of Members were unclear on how the proposed, separated and optional waste service would impact on the most vulnerable and high occupancy buildings and sought more information on the technical aspects of food waste collection and the actual implications of an optional operation where who had “opted in” and who had “opted out”, needed to be determined. 

Members felt that that it was important to consider the financial issues properly, as every tax payer was paying for the collection of waste and asked that the Executive be provided with further information on the technical aspects of the collection as detailed above, supported by flow charts to aid the decision making process.

Councillor I Devonshire proposed and Councillor K Warnell seconded, a motion to not charge for a green waste collection.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared LOST following the Chairman’s casting vote.

Councillor J Goodeve proposed and Councillor M Casey seconded, a motion that a proposal to introduce charging for green waste be given further consideration and that the issue of a food collection service be considered separately.  After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

The Committee supported the recommendations now detailed.

RESOLVED – that the Executive be advised that (A) further information be provided on the technical aspects of the collection as now detailed supported by flow charts to aid the decision making process and to facilitate a clear recommendation to Council on  a proposal to introduce charging for green waste; and

(B) the issue of a food collection service be considered separately.