Issue - meetings

That:

1)        the re3 Waste Strategy 2018-2020, as recommended by the re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board on 27 April 2018, be adopted;

2)        the outline objectives allocated to Wokingham with the Strategy, as set out in attachment 1 to the report and the Executive Summary, be noted.

The Executive considered a report relating to the proposed re3 Waste Strategy as approved by the re3 Joint Waste Board on 27 April 2018. 

The Executive Member for Environment advised the meeting that the Waste Strategy contained two principle aims:  to reduce the net cost of disposing of waste; and to recycle 50% of Wokingham’s waste by 2020.  By diverting waste from the most expensive disposal methods towards recycling could deliver savings of around £100 per tonne.  Councillor Jorgensen stated that in order to achieve these aims there was a need to maximise the use of the existing services eg black boxes, green waste collection and the glass bank system.  In addition new services, such as the food waste service which was due to be introduced from April 2019, were expected to add around 7% to the Council’s recycling figure. 

Councillor Jorgensen highlighted the fact that there were some items, eg bottom ash from the incinerator and wood currently used in biomass energy from waste, which although strictly recycled were not allowed to be counted towards the Council’s targets.  If they were counted it was noted that they would have added a further 15% to the Council’s recycling figures. 

Members were advised that earlier this year re3 had introduced a scheme whereby green waste, which had come from the recycling centres, gone for composting and then back as compost had been sold to residents.  This had proved to be very popular and had sold out within a couple of weeks.  The plan was to sell more compost next spring.

Councillor Weeks queried whether accepting pots, tubs and trays, which commenced in April, had made a measurable increase.  Councillor Jorgensen stated that it was too early to give a definitive answer but it was looking very encouraging.

Councillor Jorgensen highlighted the recent opening of the Waste Recycling Centre to visitors as part of Recycling Week and advised that this had proved very popular and showing the process of separating waste into different streams had received positive feedback.

Councillor Mirfin queried whether the soon to be introduced collection of food waste would have an impact on the increase in the rat population in certain areas of the Borough. It was confirmed that food would be stored and put out in secure, strong, plastic containers so rats and cats should not be able to access the contents and this should assist with the problem.

In response to a query about the inferior nature of the current blue bin bags Councillor Jorgensen stated that there had been a problem with the machine that produced the bags but confirmed that in the future the bin bags would revert to the previous style and quality.

REVOLVED that:

1)        the re3 Waste Strategy 2018-2020, as recommended by the re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board on 27 April 2018, be adopted;

2)        the outline objectives allocated to Wokingham with the Strategy, as set out in attachment 1 to the report and the Executive Summary, be noted.