Agenda item

The Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability presented the recommendation, which was referred to in the Executive report of 25 October 2022, regarding the Waste Service Contract Design.

Councillor McAndrew said that the Executive were asked to give authority to proceed with a competitive dialogue for the waste and street cleansing contract. He said that there were 21 recommendations for Executive with one needing agreement by Council. He said that the Council were being asked to approve the capital and estimated revenue spend in relation to the new contract. He thanked Officers who had spent a considerable amount of time on the project.

Councillor McAndrew proposed that the recommendation in the report be supported. Councillor Drake seconded the proposal.

Councillor Goldspink said she was delighted to see that there would be weekly food waste collections and was happy to support the recommendation.

Councillor Burmicz said that he had previously lived in Germany where they had food waste collections and there were massive problems with maggots and flies in the summer months. He said that he did not feel it was a good move.

Councillor McAndrew said that food waste collections would be weekly.

Councillor Townsend sought clarification on the 23 litre caddies and how they would be transported, as 23 litres roughly translated to 23 kilograms and could therefore be quite heavy to carry.

Councillor McAndrew said they were used across the country and  would almost never be full.

Councillor Curtis referred to paragraph 3.16 of the report and asked if the Executive Member would commit to having two separate options for the contract; have three weekly collections or remain at existing frequency. He said the council needed to make changes to its waste collection but wanted to make sure it had been thought through.

Councillor McAndrew said that the contract would be for a three weekly residual collection and weekly food waste.

Councillor E Buckmaster said there would be an educational element around the project. He said that a bin composition analysis had been undertaken across the county and it had found that 25-30% of waste in residual bins was food related. He said if the public disposed of waste correctly, it would mean less would be going into the black bins. He said that he was comfortable this was the correct route to go down.

Councillor Kemp said many other local authorities currently collect food waste separately and the results had been good.

Councillor Beckett said he supported the comments in favour of a separate food waste collection. He asked if the council would be providing  bin liners to residents.

Councillor McAndrew said he would ask Officers to look into that.

Councillor Haysey said that we should all be looking at what waste we were producing. She said that the council needed to note that the government would be bringing in legislation that food waste should be collected separately.

Councillor Kaye said that within East Herts, 43% of waste in the residual bins should not be in there and this project would encourage residents to think differently about their waste.

Councillor Snowdon said it was his understanding that those with special needs or medical needs would have access to more frequent collections.

Councillor McAndrew said that there were mitigating circumstances and they would be dealt with on an individual basis.

Councillor Boylan asked if bins would be replaced with the smaller ones as and when required.

Councillor McAndrew said there would be communication on how the bins would be distributed. He said that all new developments would get the 180L bins and the existing bins would not be replaced overnight.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - That the Capital and estimated revenue spend in relation to the introduction of a new weekly separate food waste collection service in 23L caddies for houses and in wheeled bins for flats in East Hertfordshire from 2025.