This report is looking to approve the new Integrated Waste Management Strategy which is detailed in Appendix A and to authorise council officers to design and implement new waste handling pilot schemes and approve the drawdown of the waste management reserve to fund such pilots.

Cabinet member, commissioning, procurement and assets introduced the report, details of which are contained within the agenda pack.

It was noted that this was a comprehensive report which incorporated the work of the task and finish group.  Waste was an important service which the council delivered to every resident in Herefordshire.

There needed to be a recognition that waste had a value and that transporting waste over long distances was unnecessary and not environmentally friendly.  It was noted that there were income streams which could be generated from waste.

Thanks were expressed to the residents who had responded the survey and to community groups for their work in keeping the county clean and tidy. 

The group leaders were supportive of the strategy. 

Resolved that

(a)          The cabinet authorises the new Integrated Waste Management strategy for Herefordshire, adopts to the new targets within the document as detailed in Appendix A and authorises the development of a benefits realisation action plan to achieve the agreed targets;

(b)          The cabinet authorises the design, development, procurement and implementation of the proposed waste handling pilot schemes and approves the expenditure of up to £1.5m from the council’s waste reserve to progress and implement the schemes;

(c)          The cabinet authorises the expenditure of the Section 106 allocation for recycling projects up to the value of £92,000 to progress the proposed waste handling pilot schemes through design, development, procurement and implementation; and

(d)          The cabinet authorises the Section 151 officer to take all operational decisions relating to the above recommendations.