Issue - meetings

That:

1)            the introduction of a weekly separate food waste collection from April 2019 based on the business case provided within the report be approved (please note that approval was given by Executive on 28 September 2017 on the provision that a food waste collection service was demonstrated to be operationally and financially viable);

2)            the extension of the current waste collection contract with Veolia for a further 7 years from April 2019, as allowed for in the contract, be approved;

3)            any further related and subsidiary decisions to conclude the contract negotiations with Veolia be delegated to the Director of Localities and Customer Service in consultation with the relevant Executive Member;

4)            a Member/Officer working group be established to oversee the introduction and rollout of the new food waste service.

(Councillor Norman Jorgensen declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item)

The Executive considered a report which recommended the implementation of a food waste collection service from April 2019 and the extension of the current waste collection contract with Veolia for a further seven years from April 2017.

The Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement introduced the report and reminded Members that, at its meeting in September 2017, the Executive had approved the introduction of a food waste recycling scheme subject to the service being shown to be operationally and financially viable.

The report stated that implementing food waste collection and extending the Veolia contract would both effectively be cost neutral. The weekly blue bags contained around 30% food waste. Capture of half of the food waste would allow the Council to divert around 5,000 tons of waste from the most expensive disposal route. It would also increase recycling rates by 7% bringing the overall rate close to 50%. In the meantime, Veolia had demonstrated an excellent service record. Extending the waste collection contract with Veolia would maintain existing service levels and provide stability as the Council was rolling out the 21^st Century change programme.

In response to a question from Councillor Dolinski, Councillor Weeks confirmed that food waste would be collected in sealed food waste containers with lockable lids. This would reduce the risk of damage and spillage currently caused to the blue bags by wild animals.

RESOLVED That:

1)            the introduction of a weekly separate food waste collection from April 2019 based on the business case provided within the report be approved (please note that approval was given by Executive on 28 September 2017 on the provision that a food waste collection service was demonstrated to be operationally and financially viable);

2)            the extension of the current waste collection contract with Veolia for a further 7 years from April 2019, as allowed for in the contract, be approved;

3)            any further related and subsidiary decisions to conclude the contract negotiations with Veolia be delegated to the Director of Localities and Customer Service in consultation with the relevant Executive Member;

4)            a Member/Officer working group be established to oversee the introduction and rollout of the new food waste service.