Agenda item

RESOLVED:

That:-

a)     Officers proceed to take the necessary decisions to implement the service changes for refuse collection, recycling and food waste collections as set out in Section 5 of the report, in readiness for a commencement of the new service in Summer 2025;

b)     The procurement process to acquire the necessary vehicles, wheeled bins, food caddies and other containers, including ancillary services in order to deliver the new service, is commenced;

c)     Officers continue to discuss the long-term provision for dry recycling with Hampshire County Council and partners; and

d)     The financial implications of the new service set out in the report be noted, with further clarity to come back to the Cabinet pending the Local Government Finance Settlement and completion of procurement activity to secure firm pricing.

KEY DECISION:

Yes

PORTFOLIO:

Environment and Sustainability

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

None

DISCUSSION:

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability introduced the report.  He welcomed the clarity which had been received from Central Government to make recycling as simple as possible.  It was acknowledged that some areas still needed more detail but that the clarity gave the Council an opportunity to work with Hampshire partners to ensure that the long term approach to recycling was the correct one.  Most importantly, planning work would be carried out to roll out the new service in 2025 and to deliver on the pledges in the Waste Strategy 2022; to reduce waste and increase recycling.

The Place Operations Strategy and Performance Manager confirmed that there had been clarity from Defra in relation to recycling.   Within these latest announcements, Defra’s stream of work known as “consistent recycling” was rebranded as “Simpler Recycling” requiring a full range of materials to be collected, including food from all domestic households from March 2026. However, Government’s preference for different recycling streams to be collected separately from each other had now been removed, meaning that all dry recyclable material could be collected together.  The Council could continue to collect garden waste as a chargeable service. 

The previously approved Waste Strategy had proposed a twin stream collection service.  Given this change of approach from central Government, the Council needed to review collection methods.  Hampshire County Council had also reported there would be a delay to the Materials Recovery Facility to be provided, to collect the additional materials for recycling until at least 2026.  They would now look to carry out further work to review the optimal approach to recycling for the County. HCC had requested that all partners look to complete this work by 1 March 2024.

To allow NFDC to move forward with the changes for 2025, two phases were proposed, with wheeled bins and food waste containers being introduced initially. Further amendments would be made to the service at a later date, but would be dependent on the outcome of the work with Hampshire Partners regarding disposal infrastructure.  It was anticipated that new burdens funding would be available in the current financial year and that more would follow next year.  Further details on the modelling of the financial formula was awaited.  Revenue funding for food waste was likely to be available in 2026.

Work was needed to be carried out on the full cost of the roll out of the new service for 2025 and a report was expected to be presented to Cabinet in February 2024.

A non-Cabinet Member acknowledged that this delay and change in approach by Government was at a cost to the Council.  It was suggested that a letter be written to Government to highlight this.  The Leader responded and suggested that a letter be written on the impact to the Council on the change to the approach on behalf of the Council to the Secretary of State.

A non-Cabinet member also highlighted it was important to ensure that clear communication was given to residents on the collection of waste and recycling, given these changes.

Cabinet Members spoke about the change in approach from central Government, acknowledging that that it would cause delays, but it was important to make the right decision for improving recycling and reducing waste.  Making recycling more simple for residents’ would be the best way forward.  This was endorsed by other non-Cabinet members.