Purpose

To approve changes to the waste service to
meet the Simpler Recycling requirements of the Environment Act
2021

Decision

That the Cabinet:
 

Approves Option B as
presented within the report as the preferred delivery model for
collecting waste and recycling from households.

 

Approves the placing
of an order for food waste collection vehicles and wheeled bins in
2025/26, subject to the budget being confirmed.

 
Recommendations to Council from
Cabinet:
 

That Council approves
drawing forward £3.150m from the Capital Programme allocation
for 2028/29 and 2030/31 into 2026/27 to fund the capital costs of
purchasing food waste collection vehicle and wheeled
bins.

 

That Council approves
rephasing of £0.735m in the Capital Programme allocations for
Food Waste for 2025/26 into 2026/27 to fund the capital costs of
purchasing food waste collection vehicles.

 

That Council approves
rephasing of £0.225m in the Capital Programme allocations for
refuse and recycling vehicles for 2025/26 into 2026/27 to fund the
capital costs of purchasing new refuse collection
vehicles.

 

That Council approves
an addition of £3.771m to the Capital Programme in 2026/27 to
fund the capital costs of purchasing food waste collection vehicles
and wheeled bins.

 

Reasons for the decision

·        
Enables the Council to meet the legal obligation
placed on local authorities to provide a separate weekly food waste
collection.
·        
Enables the Council to meet the legal obligations
placed on local authorities to provide an effective and efficient
waste management service.
·        
Provides the most cost-effective option based on
future annualised modelled costs.
·        
Ensures the Council is in the best position to
transition.
·        
Makes use of capital already allocated in the agreed
Capital Programme for waste fleet renewal in
2027/28-2030/31

Alternative options considered

·        
Option A – This delivery model follows the
same principles as Option B, with the exception of a 180l bin for
residual waste. The provision of a smaller residual waste bin was
considered too restrictive following Member feedback. Residents
will be transitioning from unlimited weekly collections under the
current delivery model and it is considered that a 240l bin will
provide greater capacity for residents to manage and adjust to the
change. Option A would require £189,450 less of capital
investment compared to Option B. There would also be a further
revenue saving of £20,500pa achievable under Option
A.
·        
Option C – This option has been discounted due
to the requirement to run additional fleet to enable a full round
sack collection to continue. It is also considered that asking
households to retain dry mixed recycling for 4 weeks in sacks is
unlikely to improve recycling rates.
·        
Wider options analysis – A number of models
for service delivery have been reviewed and discounted for not
meeting the statutory and legislative requirements and for the
financial costs.
·        
Do nothing – this is not an option as the
introduction of separate weekly food waste collections is a
statutory requirement, and the cost of the current service is
financially unsustainable.