Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: July 7, 2025

Purpose:

Content: The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:   1. To authorise the Director for Community and Environmental Services working in conjunction with the Managing Director of ENVECO to implement a 3-weekly domestic waste collection service, from April 2026, which includes weekly food waste collections.   2. To authorise the Director for Community and Environmental Services to work in conjunction with the Managing Director of ENVECO and Director of Resources to: a.     Replace the brown hessian sacks with a brown bin at a cost of circa. £1m.  It is proposed that this expenditure would be funded by prudential borrowing over 15 years which represents an estimate of the minimum life of a bin.  The cost would be met from the Waste budget in 2025/26 and thereafter it is proposed that it would be a first call on the expected Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) monies 2026/27. The level of this funding is not currently known and in the event of any shortfall, it is proposed that this is picked up through the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan. b.     Reduce the annual cost of the green bin subscription from £45 to £30, which creates a pressure of £150,000 per year, which will be fed into the medium term financial planning process for the 2026/27 budget process; c.      To review the communal bin hubs pilot, the financial implications and requirements of a roll-out across, in particular, the inner ward and secondary shopping areas across Blackpool.  Again, it is proposed that the associated costs be a call on the expected Extended Producer Responsibility monies 2026/27.  Once the financial implications have been assessed, if this Extended Producer Responsibility funding is insufficient this will be the subject of a further report; and d.     To provide ten waste amnesties per year across the inner areas of the town at a cost of £40,000, which will be fed into the medium-term financial planning process for the 2026/267 budget.   3.To authorise the Director for Community and Environmental Services to work in conjunction with the Managing Director of ENVECO to produce the following: a.     Communication, education and awareness plans for the wider community and children and young people regarding the changes and also in relation to reducing waste arisings and increasing recycling; and b.     To consider a more robust process for making sure the right materials are being placed in the right bins and bench-marking with other authorities, considering enforcement options.   4. To authorise the Director for Community and Environmental Services, in conjunction with the Managing Director of ENVECO to review the pilot trial of using Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, as an alternative to diesel in the operation of the Council’s and ENVECO’s fleet of vehicles.