Issue - meetings

A presentation by the Waste Services Manager

The Waste Services Manager provided Members with a presentation on the Council’s Waste Communication Strategy.  He provided an overview of the issues and gave a summary of the statistics for 2015 – 2016; specifically, that the Council had:

·        60,000 residences and 50,000 kerbside collections;

·        collected 54,567 tonnes of waste from the kerbside;

·        sent 27,965 tonnes of waste to landfill

·        collected 3,333 tonnes of paper (form the kerbside);

·        processed 14,021 tonnes of compost (recycled compost in 2015 (49.62%) in 2016 this was 51.62%);

·        Household waste collect per household was 455.64 kg in 2015 up 13.2% to 468.66 kg in 2016.

The Waste Services Manager provided a number of examples which showed how the Council engaged with residents to promote waste awareness / recycling. 

The Waste Services Manager provided responses  to questions raised by Councillor R Cheswright including the need to increase the print size on the literature, the inability to recycle plastic pots (from bedding plants), the choice of colour on literature and the need to put stickers on bins so that residents were aware what could be recycled.  He explained the difficulties caused as a result of contaminants in recycled items and what steps were taken against residents who refused to observe advice.  The Waste Services Manager stressed the need to rinse containers before recycling to minimise problems of contamination.

Councillor H Drake raised the issue of the time taken for large household items to be taken away and that this might be contributing to fly tipping.  The Waste Services Manager explained the collection timeframes.  Deterrents to fly tipping were debated. 

Councillor G Cutting raised the issue of publicity to further promote recycling and suggested the Bishop’s Stortford Carnival on 17 June 2017 could provide a suitable venue.

In response to a query from Councillor A Alder on items for recycling, the Waste Service Manager explained that if it could be crushed, it could be recycled.  The problems of recycling and engaging with residents in properties such as flats were discussed.  The Chairman suggested that recycling arrangements for flats should be discussed at the planning stage.  The Waste Services Manager explained the logistics and difficulties faced by large waste collection vehicles in accessing some locations.

The Chairman, on behalf of Members, thanked the Waste Services Manager for his presentation.

Members received the presentation.

RESOLVED – that the presentation be received.