Purpose

To consider the introduction of new recycling
collection services across the Borough in March 2026.

 

The Environment Act 2021 and its associated
Regulations, known as Simpler Recycling, requires the Council to collect household
food waste weekly, collect glass from the kerbside and extend the range of dry missed
recyclables collected from households by 31 March 2026.

 

In November, Members approved the proposals for
introducing food waste collection services from 30 March 2026.  This report considers what dry recycling
collection services will be offered to Fareham’s households.

 

Hampshire County Council, as Waste Disposal Authority,
has advised that the current waste disposal infrastructure cannot currently
process paper, card, metal, glass and plastics in a way that is compliant with
the new Simpler Recycling requirements. 
As such, Fareham Borough Council has four options to consider for dry
recycling collections.  The recommended
option is to make no changes to the dry recycling collections until the new
waste disposal infrastructure is operational in Winter 2027.  This is supported by Defra, has minimal
impact on the Borough’s potential to improve recycling performance and incurs
no additional costs.

 

 

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive:

 

(a) 
re-asserts
this Council’s commitment to implementing the Environment Act 2021 and its associated
Regulations to increase recycling rates and reduce the Borough’s impact on the
environment as cost effectively as possible;

 

(b) 
advises
Hampshire County Council as Waste Disposal Authority that household dry mixed
recycling collection services will not change in the Borough of Fareham prior
to the opening of the proposed new Material Recycling Facility in 2027, subject
to Hampshire County Council continuing with this proposal and despite this
Council’s preference for introducing a fully compliant dry mixed recycling
collection service from 30 March 2025;

 

(c) 
requests
that Project Integra publishes a Simpler Recycling Compliance Timeline to
demonstrate the collective intention to achieve Simpler Recycling compliance in
Hampshire;

 

(d) 
advises
Project Integra that the Council would support the development of a new Joint
Waste Management Strategy, based on a Twin Stream Fibres Separate system,
subject to the additional collection costs of this system not falling on
Fareham Borough Council;

 

(e) 
makes
additional budget provision of £65,000 for a new 12 month temporary post to
engage the Borough’s residents in recycling, funded from the Transitional Resources
Grant for Food Waste; and

 

(f)  
approaches
the provision of additional glass bring banks on Council land before 30 March
2026, from within existing budgets.