Purpose

To advise Members of the implications for the Council’s waste collection and recycling services of the Government’s proposals to require all waste collection authorities across England and Wales to collect the same materials for recycling, known as “Simpler Recycling”.

The Environment Act 2021 and the imminent Simpler Recycling Regulations will require the Council to collect food waste weekly, extend the range of dry mixed recyclables collected and collect glass from the kerbside by 31 March 2026.

Additional staff and vehicles will be required for food waste collections and a decision is required as to whether kerbside glass will be collected in with dry mixed recyclables or separately.

The increased capital and revenue costs of collecting food waste will be covered by additional New Burdens funding from the Government.  There is also the opportunity to increase the Council’s trade waste services.

Further reports will be forthcoming on the detailed proposals in due course.

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive:

(a)  confirms this Council’s commitment to implementing the proposed Environment Act 2021 Recycling Regulations to deliver significant improvements to our waste and recycling services and reduce our impact on the environment as cost effectively as possible;

(b)  agrees that £970,000 be added to the Capital Programme for the introduction of a food waste collection service across the Borough;

(c)  subject to the outcome of the current analysis of the optimal collection approach to dry mixed recyclables, agrees to assert that this Council’s preferred option is a co-mingled recycling collection service collecting a wider range of materials and that Hampshire County Council be advised accordingly; and

(d)  agrees that future detailed reports on additional recycling collection services, trade waste services and the introduction of a food waste collection service be brought forward once the Regulations are published.