Agenda item

To consider the draft Waste Strategy.

Cllr Wade declared an interest in this item as a member of Hampshire County Council, which was the waste disposal authority for the waste collected in the New Forest District Council area.  He concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and vote on the matter. 

Shirley Macey, local resident addressed the Panel in support of the proposals contained within the draft Waste Strategy.  She supported the proposal to introduce wheeled bins in the District Council area.  She acknowledged the importance of educating residents on any changes to the waste collection service and the need to change habits and behaviours.

The Committee considered the draft Waste Strategy and Engagement Plan.  Within the draft Strategy, a number of actions had been identified.  The key action being how waste was proposed to be collected.  The twin-stream option (Option 4) proposed a fortnightly collection service with residual waste and recycling waste being collected on alternative weeks and this was noted to be the preferred option.  Food waste was proposed to be collected as an additional service on a weekly basis, which was in line with the government proposals.  The draft Strategy proposed that further work be carried out in order to develop a Business Case, to engage with stakeholders on the twin-stream collection method and the Strategy as a whole.

Members noted that any change to the collection service would consider those properties which would not be suitable for the “core service” (for example – flats).  Extensive surveying work would be carried out to identify properties where the core service would not be suitable, and an alternative option would be considered.  An assisted service would be provided to any residents unable to move the wheeled bins.

It was questioned why the kerbside sort option (Option 3) was considerably cheaper than the preferred option.  It was explained that all proposed options were more expensive that the current system which was due to the proposed introduction of a food waste collection service.  The kerbside sort option did appear less expensive, however the modelling work carried out on this option did not take into account the cost to unload the waste.  Any waste transfer station would need to have the ability to accommodate the different waste streams and the costs of this collection method would be more expensive that the other proposed options.  Hampshire County Council as the Waste Disposal Authority had been carrying out some research regarding how it could accommodate additional waste streams and this information was expected to be available later in the year.  Members suggested that further detail be included within the draft Waste Strategy to explain these additional costs.

Members noted that the recycling rate needed to be improved.  It was felt that waste prevention should be put at the heart of the waste strategy.

The Panel suggested that the Council should explore the ways in which residents could identify their own collection containers in areas where they are presented for collection immediately next to containers from neighbouring households.

RESOLVED:

i)              That the draft Waste Strategy and Engagement Plan be supported; and

ii)             That the comments raised above be noted.