The Place Scrutiny Committee of Derbyshire Council met on Wednesday 22 July 2026 to discuss national waste reforms, the council's regeneration pipeline, and its future work programme. The meeting also included a session for public questions.

Presentation on Collection and Packaging Reforms

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on the national Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPR). These legislative changes aim to simplify recycling for households, shift the cost of managing packaging waste from taxpayers to producers, and reduce residual waste, supporting a more circular economy. Key aspects of the reforms include:

• Simpler Recycling: Introduced in March 2026, this requires waste collectors to handle four core streams: residual waste; food and garden waste; paper and card; and all other dry recyclable materials (glass, metal, plastic, cartons). Plastic film and bags are due to be added to plastic recycling requirements from March 2027. Local authorities retain flexibility in collection arrangements.
• Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging: This UK-wide reform mandates packaging producers to fund the management of household packaging waste. While local authorities will continue to deliver services, funding will be increasingly influenced by producer payments, performance, and data reporting.
• Deposit Return Scheme: Expected to launch in October 2027, this scheme will apply to drinks containers such as plastic bottles and metal cans. It is anticipated to alter the composition and value of kerbside recycling streams, particularly if high-value materials are removed from existing collection and sorting processes.

The report highlighted that these reforms interact with the Council's statutory duties as a Waste Disposal Authority and the operational responsibilities of District and Borough Councils as Waste Collection Authorities. It also noted potential impacts on current and future contractual arrangements for waste management. The recommendation was for the committee to note the presentation. Daniel Ayrton, whose contact details were provided, authored the report.

Presentation on the Regeneration Pipeline

A presentation was scheduled to update the committee on the progress of programmes and projects within the Council's Regeneration Pipeline. This pipeline is coordinated by Derbyshire County Council on behalf of the Derby and Derbyshire Strategic Road Safety Partnership (D2SLB) and developed through joint work with district and borough councils. The Regeneration Project Pipeline, concerning the Council's involvement, was approved by the Council's Cabinet on 16 October 2025. The report indicated that time would be allocated at the end of the presentation for comments and questions. The recommendation was for the committee to note the presentation. Karl Apps authored the report.

Work Programme 2026-27 Discussion

The committee was scheduled to discuss potential reports and topics for future meetings during the 2026-27 work programme. Items suggested for discussion included an overview of Emergency Planning, Biodiversity Net Gain, the Highways Capital Programme, an overview of the Regeneration Pipeline with EMCCA¹, and Waste Management, including new legislation and packaging reform.

Public Questions

A 30-minute slot was allocated for public questions. Members of the public who are registered electors or taxpayers in Derbyshire were eligible to submit questions to the committee or attending council officers. The procedure for submitting questions, including deadlines and scope, was outlined in the agenda documents.