SCRUTINY COMMITTEE (ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)

 

 

MINUTES of an extraordinary meeting held on 14th July, 2008.

 

Present: Councillor C.J. Williams (Chairman); Councillor Mrs. M. Kelly Owen (Vice-Chairman); Councillors J.C. Bird, R.F. Curtis, Mrs. S.I. Sharpe, W.C. Vaughan, E.T. Williams, M.R. Wilson and Ms. M. Wright.

 

Also present: Councillors G.A. Cox and A.D. Hampton.

 

           

161     APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE -

 

These were received from Councillors Ms. M.E. Alexander and G. John.

 

 

162     DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -

 

No declarations were received.

 

 

163     COLLECTION AND TREATMENT OF HOUSEHOLD KITCHEN FOOD WASTE - TRIAL PERIOD OCTOBER 2008 - MARCH 2009 (DEER) -

 

Members considered details as presented at the meeting and contained within the report in relation to a proposed trial scheme for the collection and treatment of household food waste from selected areas, accepting that if local authorities were to meet and exceed their existing recycling/composting target of 40% with a minimum of 15% recycled and composted, they would need to implement household food waste kerbside schemes.  A number of local authorities within South Wales were already providing separate kerbside collections of household food waste, Carmarthen being quoted as having piloted a very successful scheme which had resulted in a total of 50% of all waste being either recycled or composted.  Details were also submitted of survey results collated by the WLGA. 

 

Initially, it was proposed to carry out a trial/pilot to determine whether the collection methods and containers provided "best value", were operationally efficient and were to the satisfaction of customers.  Examples of the containers and types of liners available which would be given free of charge to householders involved in the pilot were demonstrated at the meeting.  This Council was already in the top quartile as regards recycling; were the food waste initiative to be implemented, this Council would be one of the lead authorities in Wales.  The proposed short term trial of approximately 5000 households had been largely based on the amount of money available.  WAG had provided additional Specific Grant Funds for 2008/09 and, whilst that money could be spent on the individual recycling/composting priorities of the Council, all local authorities had been strongly advised to prepare for the separate collection and treatment of food waste.  Further funding would be made available for food waste as follows:  2009/10 £333,333 (indicative) 2010/11 £851,852 (indicative). 

 

The proposed trial would include the following kerbside collections:

 

·     Weekly collection of food waste;

·     Fortnightly collection of residual black bag refuse;

·     Weekly collection of recycling with paper, can and glass Week 1 and plastic and cardboard Week 2;

·     Fortnightly collection of green waste on Week 2 up until November 2008 with bio-bag 'ring and request' service between November 2008 and March 2009.

 

Sanitary waste would be collected by the Council’s Household Clinical Waste Service on request, it being clarified in response to a question that “on request” could mean weekly if that was what was required. Clarification was also given in relation to the ban on oils and fats in any food waste collection, it being explained that oil was non-degradable and that there were, in fact, points at which oil could be recycled. The suggestion that those points be publicised were taken on board. Throughout the presentation, emphasis was laid on the importance of education and communication. Prior to the introduction of the trial, work would be focussed on participating households, and a feedback process would be set up during the trial period to assess progress and to identify problems – and the solutions to those problems.

 

Following further discussion on related issues, attention focussed on the areas to be selected for the trial. The Head of Visible Services explained that these had been selected having had regard to the need to provide the revised service with just one vehicle carrying a crew of two, to maintain collections on the same day as currently, and to reflect the overall social components found within the Vale.  Whilst there was discussion as to whether areas containing flats, pensioner accommodation, etc. where recycling rates were not particularly good should be included in the pilot, it was subsequently 

 

RECOMMENDED -

 

(1)      T H A T Cabinet be asked to support the proposals to undertake a kitchen food waste collection trial for the period from 1st October, 2008 to 31st March, 2009. 

 

(2)      T H A T Cabinet be requested to take account of this Committee’s views that the following five locations should be selected for that trial:

 

·   Dinas Powys (part)

·   Barry Island

·   St. Athan and Camp

·   Sully

·   Lower Penarth (part) and Lavernock.

 

(3)      T H A T a report on the performance of the trial be submitted to this Committee after three months and also at its conclusion.

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

(1&2)  To obtain the agreement of Cabinet.

 

(3)      To keep this Committee fully informed of progress and the outcome of the trial.

 

(NB. Councillor G.A. Cox spoke on the above matter with the consent of the Committee.)