Agenda item

To receive an annual update in 2024, as resolved at the Environment Select Committee meeting on 25 July 2023.

Councillor Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Waste and Environment, introduced the update on the Household Waste Management Strategy alongside Sarah Valdus, Director of Environment, Martin Litherland, Head of Service for Waste Management, and Charlotte Knowles-Lawson, Waste and Recycling Engagement Officer.

The purpose of the report as per Paragraph 1 was highlighted alongside Appendices 1 – 4, before officers briefly detailed a group of key achievements throughout the year such as the increase in the recycling rate, reduction in waste to landfill, and the successful recruitment of the new position of Waste and Recycling Engagement Officer.

The impacts of the Policy Review 2024-25 was detailed as per Paragraphs 5 to 8 of the report together with Appendix 1, with Members being informed of the key waste-related changes contained within the Environment Act 2021, such as the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), Extended Producer Responsibility for packing (EPR), and Simpler Recycling (previously known as Consistency in Recycling).

During the discussion, points included:

·       Members welcomed the Reuse and Repair initiatives in tandem Household Recycling Centre (HRC) contractors and partners. Kennet Furniture Reuse (KFR) was then raised, and Members queried if officers were considering expanding the scheme across the County. Officers noted that the arrangement with KFR was progressing and as materials for reuse were being intercepted more systematically at HRCs instead of going to landfill, officers were continuing to review similar schemes in other LAs and to potentially extend to kerbside collections of bulky household waste.

·       Malagby Biogas Digesters were raised, and it was queried if a pilot scheme on food waste collections in Wiltshire would involve the use of similar processes. Officers explained that there was sufficient empirical evidence from other Local Authorities (LAs) who already collected food waste that there would likely be limited direct benefits in trialling such processes and focus would therefore be directed on how to design and launch the service within the limited time frame before 2027. However, as it was such vast project, officers did note that they would continue to review all options to ensure that the best methods were chosen.

·       Members commended the reduction in the amount of kerbside recycling reject materials, and emphasised how vital education was in understanding the importance of separating recycling materials from general waste. Members further congratulated officers on recruiting to the role of the Waste and Recycling Engagement Officer who Members felt would be valuable in bringing the public’s attention to the topic. Officers highlighted that the position was already having a positive impact on messaging through activities such social media engagement and workshops in local schools. Furthermore, officers noted that members of the public could sign up for email updates which contained regular information, hints, and tips to support residents through the different waste processes. The link to sign up to the Waste E-Newsletter can be found through this link: Wiltshire News preference form (mailchi.mp) (residents will need to select Waste as a topic of interest).

·       The carbon emissions associated with large volumes of waste being burnt was then raised, with officers explaining that as there was not a standard formula recognised for the carbon emissions of all waste processes, it was difficult to quantify the results reliably. However, officers reassured Members that conversations between partners and the Waste Resource Action Programme were being regularly undertaken in order to understand carbon reporting processes and how they could be applied specifically to Wiltshire Council’s different waste services.

·       In response to a query, officers agreed to include in future reports the cost per kilo of sending waste to landfill and the amount of kilos of CO2 generated in the process.

·       Officers confirmed that there were two overarching bodies that linked all LA waste departments together: one representing waste collection and disposal authorities, and one representing directors. Through these connections, officers had the ability to swap best practice ideas and were focussing on packaging materials and the recyclability of those materials, with these conversations then being taken to producers of packaging to support them in reducing their waste and carbon emissions.

·       Other topics discussed included: supporting residents in composting food waste, accepting textiles at kerbside collections, and potential limited storage space for the separation of recyclables at residents’ homes across the County.

·       Finally, officers were commended for the report and thanked for their hard work and the results achieved over the past year.

At the conclusion of the discussion, it was:

Resolved:

The Committee:

a)    Noted the content of the report.

b)    Endorsed the 2024-25 Action Plan.

c)    Requested an addendum to the current report outlining the cost per kilogram per disposal activity before the end of the year.

d)    Requested a further update in 12 months’ time to include additional information on waste carbon emissions and communication/education programmes.