Information on the consultation for the new Waste Management Strategy, to shape how the Council collects and manages household waste and recycling.
Minutes:
Tracy Carter, Associate Director for Waste and Environment delivered information on the consultation for the new Waste Management Strategy, to shape how the Council collects and manages household waste and recycling. The Council had adopted a 10-year business plan, and would now produce a strategy to support delivery of that plan.
The Council was also carrying out a programme of refurbishment of its recycling centres. Churchfields would close for these refurbishments from 9th – 18th November, during that time the Amesbury and Warminster sites would remain open on their usual scheduled days.
Tracy then asked those present to take part in a multiple-choice question session, using a small number of questions selected from the consultation. Those responses were collected for consideration as part of the consultation.
For the full consultation about the Waste Management Strategy, please visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk/waste Closing date: 14th November 2017.
Questions:
· It was surprising how many people had no access to social media or a computer. How do they take part? Answer: We would try to get as many people as possible to complete the consultation online as this was most cost effective. If someone phones customer services, they will send out a hard copy so as not to exclude anyone.
· With the contract changing next year, were you able to tell us what the change to the blue lidded bin and black box collections would be? Answer: The changes would commence on 30th July 2018, we would not yet circulate information on the changes but would run a full communication programme nearer the time. Glass only in the black box all the rest would go in the blue lid bin. From 30 July 2018 we would also take plastic pots, tubs and trays as well as plastic bottles.
· How did Wiltshire Council justify the reduction in recycling when it had reduced the opening hours at household recycling centres and had made money from garden waste collection? Answer: Councils across the country were having to deal with cuts to their budgets. We have had to find savings year on year. The reduction in recycling had come from two areas; garden waste collections and had started to charge for garden waste so we have seen a reduction in composting of garden waste, and the introduction of van and trailer permits so that commercial waste, some of which would have been recycled, had also reduced.
· In terms of commercial services, by not collecting waste we are giving the profit to the private sector? Answer: There are significant costs in collecting and managing waste. Local authorities did not have a duty to deliver these services. Companies like Grist are predominantly dealing with waste from businesses. They make a profit because they charge for collection of waste and recycling. We signpost people who need to dispose of their commercial waste to the private sector.
· Would the Churchfields refurb include a better traffic management arrangement than the existing system? Answer: We were restricted by a lack of space in that facility. The refurb was relatively basic. We would be looking at which containers were most in use to try and balance the provision to the need. It was an old style site from the 1970s, the numbers of materials we accept now had increased a great deal since Churchfields was first opened.
· Had fly tipping levels have gone up? Answer: We had seen an increase in fly-tying across the county but that reflects the increase nationally. We continue to work on this.
· Could the costs to the council of the landfill tax be published more regularly? Answer: The council bears the cost of the landfill tax on waste which it collects that is landfilled. The figures for collecting and managing waste and recycling are quite complex as we manage over 30 different types of material and there are different charges depending on how they are managed. We are trying to make that information easier for the public to access.
· Could a copy of the presentation be circulated with the minutes? Answer: Yes the slides would be attached.
· Are we still transferring some landfill out of Wiltshire? Answer: We only landfill the type of waste that is not suitable for producing energy and this is mainly disposed of in Wiltshire at Lower Compton, near Calne. We do still send 50k tonnes of waste each year to and energy from waste (EfW) plant just outside of Slough. We do have a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant in Westbury where non-recycled waste is treated to produce a fuel which is currently exported to energy from waste plants in other northern European countries.
· Why not sell the reusable items that are taken to the recycling depot? Answer: We are keen to reuse materials; for example bikes are collected by a charity who refurbish them and deliver them to schools in some African countries. We are constrained for space at the sites, but we are working on a proposal to enable more reuse of items delivered and hope to introduce this next summer.