Content

11.1

This report details the
requirement to introduce separate, weekly food waste recycling
collections to Sheffield households, as required by the Environment
Act (2021).
 
This report also sets out three
options available to the Council to meet its statutory obligations
for food collection services:
 
Option 1: Introduction of a
weekly food waste recycling service by 31 March 2026, and not apply
for a Transitional Arrangement.
 
Option 2: Apply to Central
Government for a Transitional Arrangement to defer the introduction
of separate food waste collections for five years until 31 March
2031.
 
Option 3: Apply to Central
Government for a Transitional Arrangement to defer the introduction
of separate food waste collections until the end of the Veolia
Integrated Waste Management Contract in 2038.
 
This report recommends that
Option 3 is best course of action for the Council based upon the
reasons set out in this report

 

 

11.2

RESOLVED: That the Waste and Street
Scene Policy Committee approves Option 3, as set out in
paras 1.29 to 1.32 of this report, which proposes an application
for a Transitional Arrangement to defer the requirement to
introduce separate, weekly food waste collections until the end of
the Veolia Integrated Waste Management contract in 2038, subject to
Government Ministerial approval of the application for a
Transitional Arrangement, and to explore how the council can
encourage citizens to consider options for voluntary home and
community composting and recycling, working with partners.

 

 

11.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

11.3.1

The proposed Option 3 will see
the Council submit an application to DEFRA for a Transitional
Arrangement until the end of the Veolia Integrated Waste Management
contract in 2038.

 

 

11.3.2

The proposed option will
provide the following benefits to the Council for
the duration of the
Transitional Arrangement:
 

·      
Protect the Council from costs for any negative
commercial impacts the diversion of the food waste has on the
Energy Recovery Facility for the duration of the integrated waste
management contract.
 

·      
Protect the Council from the ongoing budgetary
pressure associated with the high risk that the New Burdens Funding
will not cover all of the revenue or capital costs associated with
the service.
 

·      
Provide maximum flexibility for the Council.
Government have confirmed they will be in contact with local
authorities in receipt of a Transitional Arrangement on an annual
basis to determine whether the implementation date of separate food
waste collections can be brought forwards. The Council will be able
to review when to introduce a food waste service on an annual
basis, and this decision process will be informed by the amount of
New Burdens funding available from Government to provide an
informed position of any budgetary pressures associated with the
provision of the service.
 

·      
Recognises only marginal carbon savings associated
with the provision of a food waste collection service when compared
to disposal via energy recovery, and provides the opportunity to
use the £3m included in the Medium Term Financial Analysis
from 2025/26 for the food waste service, for the delivery of
alternative climate change projects that could deliver additional
carbon savings. Please note, the £3m included in the Medium
Term Financial Analysis is currently an unfunded corporate
pressure.

 

 

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

11.4.1

Option 1 would forgo the opportunity to apply
for a Transitional Arrangement, and the Council would be mandated
to proceed with the implementation of a weekly food waste
collection service by 31 March 2026.

 

 

11.4.2

This option has been discounted for the
following reasons:
 

·      
The lack of clarity from Government as to the amount of New Burdens
funding to be made available. There is a high risk that the New
Burdens funding provided would not cover all of the revenue or
capital costs associated with the service, and this may exceed the
£3m included in the Council’s Medium Term Financial
Analysis from 2025/26.
 

·      
Confirmation from Government that New Burdens funding will not be
provided to cover any costs incurred under existing residual energy
from waste collection contracts for the impact the introduction of
separate food waste collection.
 

·      
Marginal carbon savings (78 tonnes CO2 equivalent per year) that
would be achieved following the introduction of weekly food waste
collections, when compared to the current disposal route via energy
recovery.
 

·      
The opportunity to use the £3m included in the Medium Term
Financial Analysis from 2025/26 for the food waste service, to be
used for the delivery of alternative climate change projects that
could deliver additional carbon savings. (See Appendix 2 for more
information).

 

 

11.4.3

Option 2 would see the Council apply for a
Transitional Arrangement, which, subject to Ministerial approval,
would defer the requirement to provide separate, weekly food waste
collections in Sheffield for 5 years until 31 March 31.

 

 

11.4.4

This option has been discounted for the
following reasons:
 

·      
the shorter duration of the Transitional Arrangement associated
with option 2 (up to 5 years) when compared to option 3 (up to 12
years) means the Council would be mandated to introduce weekly food
waste collections in 2031 regardless of the Council’s
budgetary position at that time.
 

·      
Option 2 will provide less flexibility than Option 3 and will deny
the Council maximum opportunity to take an informed decision as to
when to introduce the food waste collection service.