The Cabinet Member Signing meeting was scheduled to discuss the extension of the council's food waste collection programme. This extension is a requirement of new government legislation aimed at increasing recycling rates across England.

Food Waste Extension Programme

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the Food Waste Extension Programme . This programme is designed to extend the council's existing weekly food waste collection service to an estimated 9,000 additional households and all flats above shops. This expansion is a direct response to new legal requirements stemming from The Environment Act 2020 Regulations 2024, which mandate that local authorities collect core recyclable waste streams, including food waste, from all households by 31 March 2026.

The report indicated that the programme would require up to £991,000 in expenditure. Funding for this initiative is expected to come from a £581,000 transitional grant awarded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), £100,000 from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), and £310,000 from accumulated contract Specific Project Income (SPI) reserves.

A key recommendation was for the Cabinet Member to formally accept the Defra grant, which totals £416,858 in capital and £163,863 in revenue. This acceptance is a necessary step to comply with Council Standing Order (CSO) 21.01. The report highlighted that the grant was awarded after Haringey Council successfully challenged the evidence used by Defra in its initial allocation of funding.

The report outlined the planned expenditure, which includes the purchase of three food waste collection vehicles, containment solutions for high-rise/communal flats and flats above shops, and additional revenue costs for a hire vehicle and crew to cover manufacturer delivery lead times. Strategic Procurement was reviewing procurement routes, such as public sector frameworks or open tendering, to ensure the council maximised the value of the grant funding.

The report also touched upon the environmental benefits of the programme, noting that around 30% of north London's waste is food. Diverting food waste from landfill or energy-from-waste facilities contributes to the council's aim of Responding to the Climate Crisis and its Destination 50% recycling target. It was estimated that for every tonne of food waste diverted from Haringey's refuse bins, the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) levy payment reduces by approximately £100.

The report also referenced the 'Waste and Street Cleansing Services Review', approved by Cabinet on 15 October 2024, which had previously identified the need for changes in service provision and investment due to evolving legislation. The 'Simpler Recycling' changes in law and the extension of food waste collections were specifically mentioned within that report.

The report detailed the legal and financial implications, with the Director of Legal and Governance confirming no legal reasons prevented the approval of the recommendation. The report also addressed equality considerations, noting that while the service already covered most households, the extension to flats above shops and remaining communal collections would require careful consideration of containment logistics and infrastructure challenges on busy high streets. The council's existing outreach programme and provision of free kitchen caddies and liners were mentioned as support for residents.

The meeting was also scheduled to include standard procedural items such as apologies for absence, declarations of interest, and urgent business, though no specific details were provided for these in the available documentation.