Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of Communities and Environment on future proposals linked to the waste and recycling strategy for Leeds.

The report of the Director of Communities and Environment invited the Scrutiny Board to consider and provide comment on future proposals linked to the waste and recycling strategy for Leeds.

Appended to this report was a copy of the Executive Board report dated 15^th November 2017 setting out the proposed programme for the development of an updated Leeds Waste Strategy, an update on the local and national context and key issues for consideration in terms of the Council’s future ambitions and the achievement of targets.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  James Rogers, Director of Communities and Environment

·  Councillor Yeadon, Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability

·  Tom Smith, Chief Officer Waste Management

·  Andrew Lingham, Head of Waste Strategy and Infrastructure

·  Jenny Robinson, Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)

The Chair structured the discussion around the management of waste in accordance with the main waste hierarchy options in terms of reduction, re-use and recycling.

The key issues raised were as follows:

·  Implications of the EU Waste Framework Directive – the Board acknowledged that in the short-term, it is expected that the UK will adhere to the current EU targets, but in the medium-term it is possible that the UK will implement its own national framework for waste and recycling.

·  Waste reduction initiatives – the Board acknowledged ongoing local initiatives aimed at encouraging waste reduction but also the role of WRAP in working with the industry nationally around the design and manufacture stages of products so as to maximise their life and minimise waste.

·  Residual waste capacity – it was highlighted that waste generation can be influenced at a local level by the Council’s waste collection systems and the amount of capacity that it provides to residents.  As such, it was noted that further modelling work around varying residual waste capacity would be undertaken.

·  Re-use and the Third Sector – the Board commended existing third sector partnership initiatives and the proposals for further investment in this approach to maximise their potential influence and also the social value associated with their activities.

·  The provision of bottle banks - clarification was sought regarding ownership of existing bottle banks and the Board emphasised the benefits of obtaining local intelligence from Ward Members around potential new sites.

·  Proposed plastic bottle deposit return schemes – the Board noted that the Council had responded to the Government’s call for evidence to help it scope out the opportunities, enablers, challenges and barriers to regulatory or voluntary measures, such as deposit return schemes, to improve the recycling of and/or reduce littering of drinks containers.

·  Garden waste collections – whilst acknowledging plans to expand the provision of brown bin collections to a further 15-20,000 properties, the Board discussed the alternative approaches to kerbside collected garden waste, particularly during the winter months when this service ceases, and acknowledged the significant benefits of home composting and also the use of Household Waste Recycling Centres.

·  Securing greater public engagement in recycling - reference was made to the Council’s recent programme of recycling communications and engagement.  Linked to this, the Board also acknowledged the valuable role of Waste Doctors in helping to secure greater public engagement in recycling and discussed potential opportunities to try and increase this particular resource.

The Board acknowledged that more detailed options modelling and appraisal work was required to establish more fully the costs, risks and benefits of the range of options under consideration.  Linked to this, the following suggestions were put forward by the Scrutiny Board to be considered as part of this option appraisal process:

Ø  That the Council uses the Leeds Bin app to raise greater awareness of existing re-use initiatives and to signpost residents to their local re-use facility.

Ø  That opportunities are explored with Housing Leeds to enable any furniture left behind in vacant Council owned properties to be appropriately risk assessed and then offered to any new tenants of that property in the first instance.

Ø  That opportunities are explored to attract volunteers to become trained Waste Doctors.

The Board acknowledged that WRAP are supporting the Council as a part of their agenda to promote greater harmonisation of recycling services across England.  The WRAP funded study is due to be concluded in the Spring of 2018.  As such, the Board advised that a further update surrounding the outcomes of this study and the ongoing development of the city’s waste strategy be brought back to Scrutiny early in the new municipal year.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the above suggestions put forward by the Scrutiny Board be taken into consideration as part of the ongoing options modelling and appraisal work.

(b)  That a further update surrounding the outcomes of the WRAP funded study and the ongoing development of the city’s waste strategy be brought back to Scrutiny early in the 2018/19 municipal year.