To provide an update on the current performance of the Waste Collection Contract, Integrated Waste Management Contract and to outline the implication of the Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Herefordshire.

The Committee received an update on the current performance of the Waste Collection Contract, Integrated Waste Management Contract and an outline of the implication of the Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Herefordshire.

The Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards reported that the collection and disposal contracts were interrelated and the performance of one area may be dependent on the performance in another area.  Comparative data on the Council’s performance compared to other authorities was appended to the report.

In relation to Integrated Waste Management he highlighted that the Council had a number of statutory targets with regard to waste management. The two most immediate targets related to BVPI 82 (a) & (b) – the percentage of household waste recycled and composted.  He commented that the 2003/04 target of 14% had been achieved (19.4%).  While some investment had already been made in the expansion of kerbside collection, unless further investment in the Council’s recycling and composting was made, the next target for 2005/04 of 21% was unlikely to be met.  He referred to a number of options to tackle this point, as outlined in the report, which he felt the Council would have to consider at some stage to enable it to achieve the targets.

Concerning the Waste Management Contract he commented on the inter-relationship between the various management elements e.g. the proposed Autoclave process at Madley; the performance of the Household Waste Sites and possible changes to kerbside collection.  He reported that failure to comply with the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme targets for biodegradable municipal waste would lead to severe financial penalties.

The Director of Environment reported that following consultation on the Joint Municipal Waste Strategy for Herefordshire and Worcestershire “Managing Waste for a brighter Future” a number of minor changes had been made and a report on the strategy was due to be considered by Cabinet in July 2004.

During the course of discussion the following principal points were noted:

·         The Director of Environment reported that the Envirobility Recycling Scheme at Ross-on-Wye was due to be extended to a number of surrounding villages.

·         Consideration was being given to varying the kerbside collection in a trial area whereby residual waste would be collected on a fortnightly basis and recyclables collected on alternate weeks to establish whether an increase in recyclables could be obtained without increasing costs while maintaining the collection of residuals.

·         While no financial penalties, other than that imposed through the Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme, were expected to be imposed through not achieving the targets, it was noted that elements of waste management were contained in the Council’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA).

·         The pay back time for a ‘box collection’ scheme, similar to that currently at Ross-on-Wye, was difficult to predict.

·         The collection cost per tonne of recycled waste was considerably more than that for collecting residual waste, particularly when collecting high volume low weight waste such as plastics.

·         Use would be made of the recently launched DEFRA computer models to compare different methods of waste collection.

·         It was anticipated that the next edition of Herefordshire Matters would contain an article on waste and recycling.

·         The proposed Household Waste site at Kington was awaiting the resolution of land ownership problems.

RESOLVED: That the report on waste management be noted.