Agenda item

To receive an update on the Waste Strategy.

The Panel considered the report providing an update on the Waste Strategy and detailed the regional developments which had an impact on the District Council’s waste service. 

The Panel noted the work of the Waste Partnership, Project Integra (PI) which comprised all authorities in Hampshire.  Each authority in the PI partnership had carried out work to consider the future collection service, recycling and disposal infrastructure in Hampshire, in the context of national policy and legislation.

Three main pieces of work were being undertaken by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Authorities group, comprising of all the Councils in the PI partnership.  These were to revise the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (JMWMS), develop a new Partnering Agreement and a new financial model.  This was in the context of national policy and legislation and the desires of the authorities to reduce waste and increase recycling.  The JMWMS was still in draft form, however the key priorities for the Strategy, were detailed in section 4 of the report.  They included for example, Partnership Working, best practice and waste reduction.  The JMWMS was expected to be finalised shortly and Cabinet approval would be sought for the Strategy at a meeting on 6 October 2021.  This strategy would need to be agreed by all Hampshire authorities. 

Work was continuing on the District Council’s Waste Strategy, in particular the financial and resource considerations for the proposed future service.

Members sought clarification regarding the disposal of waste and whether it would go to landfill.  It was noted that the waste hierarchy would be used, whereby the aim was to reduce waste, at the top of the hierarchy, followed by reuse and recycle.   In terms residual waste, this would be taken to an energy recovery facility.  Landfill would be used as a last resort. 

The key principles of the JMWMS were supported by the Panel.  Members noted that there could be opportunities for authorities to work together with, for example, the introduction of food waste collections, where containers and new vehicles would need to be purchased.  This could enable cost savings as well as reducing the procurement burden on individual authorities.

The issue of contamination was raised and the importance of good communication and education to residents was recognised in order to reduce this.  It was anticipated that the proposed preferred option, with the introduction of wheeled bins, would make it easier to identify contamination at the source and this could be addressed with local residents.  This was difficult with the current plastic sack collection service.

The report proposed to hold a Special meeting of the Panel to consider the Waste Strategy on 11 November.  However, it was recognised that some members had prior commitments on this day and therefore it was suggested that a meeting be held in mid November.

RESOLVED:

i)               That the progress on the Council’s Waste Strategy be noted;

ii)              That the key principles and priorities within the draft Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (JMWMS) be supported; and

iii)             That a special meeting of the Panel be held in mid November 2021