The Lincolnshire Waste Partnership meeting was scheduled to cover updates from partner councils, a discussion on food waste, and regulatory changes affecting waste management. The meeting's agenda also included a review of the partnership's forward plan.

Partner Updates

The meeting was scheduled to receive verbal updates from each of the partner councils within the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership. These updates were expected to cover the progress of various waste management initiatives across their respective districts. This included progress on the rollout of new waste disposal bins and vehicles, recruitment of engagement officers, and reviews of waste disposal routes. For instance, West Lindsey District Council was expected to report on the delivery of food waste caddies and the commencement of collections, noting that joint communications had helped address public concerns. South Kesteven District Council was also anticipated to provide an update on its food waste rollout, including potential amendments to waste collection policy and timetabling. North Kesteven District Council was expected to report on food waste caddy delivery, vehicle procurement, and any delays to the expansion of their waste vehicle depot. The City of Lincoln Council was scheduled to update on food waste caddy distribution, recruitment of new waste staff, and the continuation of experiments with AI to identify contaminated waste.

Food Waste Update

A report was scheduled to be presented by the Head of Waste at Lincolnshire County Council, providing an update on the ongoing and planned rollouts of new waste collection and disposal regulations, alongside the supporting communications campaign. The report was expected to highlight major future milestones as part of a roadmap of future goals. Discussions were anticipated regarding the potential for communications to focus on promoting lifestyle changes to reduce food waste, possibly by linking it to issues such as food banks and non-edible food waste. The effectiveness of official versus informal online communications was also expected to be discussed, acknowledging that negative feedback online might not always reflect wider public opinion. Further discussion was scheduled on the possibility of conducting communications through lower authorities like Parish councils to mitigate perception issues. The report was also expected to cover the continuation of radio and animated advertising produced by Lincolnshire County Council, with the animated advertising having been praised for its creativity. Criticism was anticipated regarding the government's perceived lack of funding assistance despite the introduction of additional obligatory services, with government responses expected to be described as patronising. The report was intended to inform the Partnership of progress to date and to seek continued support for the implementation of segregated food waste collection and disposal across Lincolnshire, in accordance with requirements from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)¹.

Regulatory Updates

A report was scheduled to be presented by the Head of Waste Management and Market Services at South Kesteven District Council, providing an update on relevant legislative and regulatory changes since the previous meeting. The primary focus of these changes was expected to be the introduction of a deposit return scheme and the recycling of 'soft plastics' such as plastic bags and food wrapping. The Partnership was scheduled to have the opportunity to ask questions about the proposed methodology for soft plastic collection. Concerns were expected to be raised regarding the competency of DEFRA and prior complaints about a poor and indifferent attitude towards the financial difficulties imposed on local government bodies by new waste regulations. It was anticipated that DEFRA would be described as obstructive and uncooperative in its dealings with local government partners. Soft plastic recycling was expected to be highlighted as a cost pressure without additional support, and officers were expected to note that costing for anticipated emissions trading schemes would likely be excessive, despite infrequent and lacking updates.

Lincolnshire Waste Partnership Forward Plan

Consideration was scheduled to be given to the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership's Forward Plan. It was also agreed that the results of the consultation on household waste recycling could be discussed at a future meeting. The Forward Plan outlines scheduled topics and responsible officers for future meetings of the Partnership, including updates on partner activities, performance, regulatory changes, and specific project updates such as the South Holland (SH) Wheeled Bins Update.