The Board will receive a presentation on waste and recycling in South West Wiltshire, including an update on kerbside recycling and mini recycling sites in the area, followed by an opportunity to ask questions.
Officer: Tracy Carter, Associate Director for Waste & Environment
Minutes:
The Board received a presentation on waste and recycling in South West Wiltshire, and an update on kerbside recycling and mini recycling sites in the area, from Tracy Carter, Associate Director for Waste and Environment.
· Since 2013/14, street sweepings had improved.
· In 2012/13 the level of recycling achieved was 46.9%. In 2013/14, amount was 44.1%, however this was due to a change in the way that recycling could be recorded.
· In Mere, Tisbury and Wilton, side waste was no longer collected.
· The collection vehicle used to have to go and unload in Amesbury, so a second vehicle and driver would take the crew on to complete the rest of the round. Now that side waste was not being collected, the second vehicle and driver was not required, which brought a saving.
· Following the removal of several of the smaller mini recycling sites, 14 strategic mini recycling sites would remain around the county, including one at Salisbury Street in Mere and one at Nadder Close car park in Tisbury.
A Garden Waste Collection Service consultation was underway, the options being considered were:
Proposal 1 - a three month suspension of the garden waste service with no collections taking place in December, January and February
Proposal 2 - a five month suspension of the garden waste service with no collections taking place in November, December, January, February and March
Proposal 3 - to introduce a chargeable kerbside garden waste collection service for those who opt to pay for this
Consultation web page: http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/council/consultations.htm
The findings of the consultation would be presented to Cabinet in January 2015, with a decision being implemented in early autumn 2015.
Comments and questions were then taken, these included:
· Where do people take their side waste and would this produce an increase in fly tipping? Answer: There had not been any issues in other parts of the county where side waste was no longer collected, so an increase in fly tipping was not anticipated for the South West. Members of the team would be happy to visit any resident having difficulties in reducing their waste to discuss options.
· Could you give us assurance that the council would not be going over to a three weekly waste collection service? Answer: There were no proposals to introduce a three weekly collection service, it was not on the cards at the moment.
· Would there be a chance of introducing a kitchen waste collection service and the facility to recycle Tetra pak cartons? Answer: There were no proposals to introduce a separate collection for food waste. Subsidised food waste compactors were available to purchase through the council. We do not have the capacity to take Tetra pak at present; however the contract was due for renewal. Contractors had been asked to provide costings to collect these along with small electrical products and batteries. If council decided to take a contract to collect these, it could be implemented from 2017.
· There used to be a charge for a collection of garden waste, then this changed, what happened? Answer: When we became a unitary council, we harmonised our collection services across the county, in West Wiltshire they had had a free service, so we rolled that out across the rest of Wiltshire.
· For residents on the edge of the Wiltshire and Dorset border, where would you direct them to take their additional waste? Answer: Salisbury was the centre for south west and southern Wiltshire.
· One of the problems with excess waste was the used by dates on food packaging, this was a national issue. Answer: We meet with officers at DEFRA from time to time, it was recognised that a decision at a policy level would have more effect. There had already been some shift with supermarkets where they were starting to sign up to help reduce food waste.
· If you stop a garden waste collection service, then people would start to burn their garden waste, there would be an increase of fires. Answer: There would still be the option for taking your garden waste to a recycling centre.
· Could food waste be used as pig swill? Answer: No, due to animal welfare and disease over the past few years, the rules on what can be fed to animals have been tightened.
· Was there any profit from recycling glass collected from the 14 mini recycling sites? Answer: Whilst we do benefit from some recycling sites, the cost of collecting with the mini skip truck far outweighs the benefit.
· What was the feasibility of the 14 mini recycling sites being saved after the initial year if the parish councils were asked to pay the £400 for the facility?
· Why had the Wilton site been removed? Answer: Tracy would look in to this and feedback.
Action: Tracy Carter to feedback to the CAM.