To consider the further findings of the scrutiny review of Household Waste Recycling in Herefordshire.

The Committee considered the further findings of the scrutiny review of Household Waste Recycling in Herefordshire.

The Chairman of the Review Group, Councillor KG Grumbley, reported that the review Group had submitted its findings in March 2007 (appendix 1 to the agenda report) however, it was agreed that the report be held over pending the then awaited results of the Governments review of the National Waste Strategy.  The Committee in June 2007 agreed that Councillor Grumbley, together with Councillor PJ Edwards, review the scrutiny findings in light of the governments review and resubmit the scrutiny report.

 Councillor KG Grumbley reported the review had been carried out in accordance with the scoping statement (appendix 1 to the report) and provided a detailed commentary on the original report.  He then commented on the implications for Herefordshire arising from the Government’s Review of the National Waste Strategy and highlighted that as anticipated the Government had set higher targets for recycling and composting of household waste and would be increasing the standard rate of landfill tax, as indicated in the supplementary report.

He further reported that since compiling the report and supplemental report he had learned that the new waste collection contract for Herefordshire was unlikely to come into operation until Summer 2009 when a new recycling plant should be operational near Worcester.  Based on this assumption he recommended that the Cabinet Member (Environment and Strategic Housing) consider further extending the current coloured bag collection system to areas of the County not currently covered.  He further commented that the Cabinet Member (Environment and Strategic Housing) had indicated to him that he was currently minded to introduce weekly black bin (residual waste) collection with recycled materials being collected fortnightly.

The Chairman suggested that in view of concerns over alternate weekly collections and the change to wheelie bins that a seminar on waste collection and disposal options be held for all members and that at the same time all town and parish councils be consulted over this sensitive issue.

Questioned on the recycling of commercial waste the Committee noted that this comprised a sizable element of the waste stream and a number of members suggested that the Council should encourage the Government to take on the issue of reducing this element of waste.

Responding to a number of questions the Director of Environment commented that: the judicial review appeal for the planning application at Madley  (proposed autoclave facility) was that morning being heard in the High Court. The issues of wheelie bin use at terrace premises would need serious consideration.  Black bags left in the street constituted fly tipping and could, as a first resort, be tackled by fixed penalty notices.

The Committee questioned the capital cost of changing to wheelie bins compared with the cost of black bags.  In response the Waste Services Manager reported that from a study undertaken by WRAP, bag collection for refuse and recycling was the most expensive form of collection. If Herefordshire changed to wheelie bins then the cost of the bins and the change to the collection fleet could be factored into the cost of the collection contract.

In view of the range of issues concerning waste collection and disposal three Members suggested deferring consideration of the report until after the previously suggested seminar.

The Committee considered whether it wished to approve the report including supplementary recommendations or defer consideration until the after a seminar on waste collection and disposal.  The Committee decided to agree the report and supplementary recommendations.

RESOLVED: that

a)      subject to part b below the Committee agree the findings of the original Household Waste Recycling in Herefordshire review and the supplementary recommendations identified in the agenda report for submission to the Cabinet Member (Environment & Strategic Housing);

b)     The Committee strongly recommends that before any further consideration is given to the suggestion of alternate weekly collections and the change-over to "wheelie bins", that a seminar on Waste Collection and Disposal Options be held for all members, and that at the same time, all Town and Parish Councils be consulted over this very sensitive issue;

c)      The Executives response to the Review including an action plan be reported to the first available meeting of the Committee after the Executive has approved its response; and

d)     A further report on progress in response to the Review then be made after six months with consideration being given to the need for any further reports to be made.