Agenda item

To consider a review of the operation of the Food Waste collection service for 2019-20.

The Committee considered a report, set out at Agenda pages 21 to 26, which gave details of a review of the food waste collection service in 2019/20.

Irum Gulzar, Waste Collection and Disposal Contract Manager, attended the meeting to present the report and answer Member questions.

The report stated that the Council had extended its waste collection contract with Veolia in April 2019. The extension included the addition of a weekly food waste collection service across the Borough. The new arrangements aimed to divert 5,000 tonnes of food waste from the blue bags and contribute 7% towards the recycling target of 50% by 2020.

The food waste collection service had now been operating for 19 months. To date, the service had received a positive response from residents. By April 2020 the Council achieved a 50% recycling rate. In 2019/20 the Council diverted 5,154 tonnes of food waste from blue bags, exceeding the target of 5,000 tonnes. This tonnage also delivered a reduction of 52k tonnes of CO2e which supported the Council’s climate emergency work.

The report stated that, overall, the performance of the food waste collection service had improved significantly, with engagement from an increasing number of residents. There was a commitment to increase participation further, but also to focus on waste minimisation in 2021/22 to further increase recycling and reduce the costs of disposal.

In the ensuing discussion, Members raised the following points:

What was the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the service? It was confirmed that, as a result of the pandemic, more people had spent more time at home. This had resulted in increased tonnages of waste, including food waste. There were further issues around the closure of WBC outlets for bags and the closure of the waste and recycling sites. An updated list of outlets was maintained on the WBC website. In the meantime, as a temporary measure, ABC cars were being used to deliver to people who were unable to leave home.

Some Councils had started food waste collection well then seen a fall-off in numbers. It was confirmed that the aim was to achieve 75% participation in the scheme in 2021/22. Focussed communications would be aimed at areas of the Borough with lower participation rates.

The table on Page 26 of the Agenda indicated that food waste had made a contribution of 7% to the overall recycling target.

For families who did not use the food waste caddies (e.g. home composters) did WBC aim to retrieve the unused caddies? It was confirmed that this suggestion would be investigated.

On a related issue, what was the timeframe for the delivery of the new recycling sacks? It was confirmed that the sacks were being produced overseas and that the pandemic had impacted on delivery dates. It was hoped that the new sacks would be delivered to residents early in 2021. Members would be notified of the timeframe for delivery of the new sacks and the plans to deal with the current black boxes.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Irum Gulzar be thanked for attending the meeting to present the report and answer Member questions;

2)     The update on the food waste collection service be noted.