Purpose

Cabinet is recommended to approve the new
recycling strategy.

Content

Cabinet:
 

(1)          
noted and took into account the consultation undertaken with
residents as set out in the report and detailed in Appendix 6 to
the report;
 

(2)          
agreed to introduce separate food waste collections to all
residents and reduce the frequency of residual waste collections
from households that have their own individual bins from weekly to
fortnightly;
 

(3)          
approved and adopted the Waltham Forest Recycling Strategy 2024-34
Appendix 1 to the report;
 

(4)          
agreed to vary the Neighbourhood Services Contract with
Urbaser SA to give contractual effect
to the changes necessary as a result of adopting the Waltham Forest
Recycling Strategy 2024-34; and
 

(5)          
approval for the one off spend of £1,625,946 and the on-going
costs of £937,617 as outlined in the financial implications
section 7.1.4 of the report. 
 
OPTIONS & ALTERNATIVES
CONSIDERED
 
Do nothing –
Not recommended because, if the council did not act, then the
borough would not increase recycling rates and reduce waste fast
enough to meet our Climate Action Plan commitments, such as
achieving 50% recycling by 2030. It would also become non-compliant
with the requirements of the Environment Act.
 
Implement an
alternative new recycling collection methodology –
Development of the Recycling Strategy involved examining multiple
possible household waste collection methodologies via mathematical
modelling. The option that the council is proposing presents the
most optimal solution in terms of value for money, practicability
and improvement in recycling performance. This option was supported
by a majority of Waltham Forest residents in the consultation.