Agenda item

At the meeting of Environment Select Committee held on 25 October 2016, members considered a report which provided an update on the council’s existing Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy 2006 to 2016.

During the October 2016 meeting, the Committee resolved that elected members should have a greater role in the early development of the new strategy (post 2016). As a result member workshops were scheduled, in order to aid the discussion of key waste management challenges and the future of household waste and recycling services delivered by Wiltshire Council.

The Committee will receive the report on the outcome from the member workshops held in July 2017 and how this has been used to develop the questions for a public consultation survey.

The report was introduced by Tracy Carter- Associate Director Waste and Environment, which was described as an update report on the work done in the development of the new strategy. She announced that she was pleased to see the level of Councillors interest in the strategy and referred to the success of the well-attended Waste Workshops, held in July, with 43 Councillors having participated. 

The Committee advised that as part of the Consultation, the Waste Team were making presentations at Area Board meetings, which were being well received. It was explained that some Consultation questions were being put to audiences, and would be included in the overall response to Consultation. Members were informed that the Consultation was now live and would close on 14 November 2017, and were urged to encourage their divisions to participate.

A number of questions were raised by Councillors in response to the report. Firstly, a recognition of the efforts of Officers and the success of the Consultation, so far, was voiced by Members. The point was raised that the Strategy could be used as an ambitious piece of work in addressing the future long term impacts of household waste and climate change, amongst other environmental factors. Concern was also raised about the introduction of charges for non-household waste at Household Recycling Centres and how improper use could lead to an increase in fly-tipping.

In regards to the specific issue of Single-Use Plastics (SUPs), Tracy Carter advised Members that from July 2018, under a new contract, a wider selection of plastics would be recycled at the kerbside. However, it was also explained that the policy on SUPs was based on educating the public to minimise use, although it was recognised that without national legislation restricting packaging, the Council had limited influence over the producers of SUPs.

It was highlighted that events managed by the Council always have a waste management plan attached to them and independent traders have set waste management standards and legislative requirements to abide by. Furthermore, in response to questioning, Tracy confirmed that the Council manages its Single-Use Plastic waste properly and therefore, Single-Use Plastic waste collected by Wiltshire Council does not end up in the world’s oceans.

Resolved:

The Committee agreed:

1.    To note the update on the early development of a new household waste management strategy for Wiltshire Council; noting the key themes resulting from member workshops and how these have been used in shaping the questions for a public consultation.

2.    For the final report on the Wiltshire Council Waste Management Strategy, to be received by the Committee in January 2018, to include information on: why individuals choose not to recycle in Wiltshire; clearly defined and strategic goals for the Strategy, of a similar nature to those found in the ‘Zero Waste Scotland’ Strategy.

3.    For the Committee’s consideration of the Notice of Motion on SUPs to be closed, as the Council’s management of plastic waste ending up in the oceans is legally compliant and would ensure that this does not end up in the world’s oceans and there is nothing further that the Council could do at present to combat the amount of plastic waste found in the ocean.