Issue - meetings

(Environment Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-054-2016/17).

(Environment Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached background paper in conjunction with the report (C-054-2016/17).

(1)        That the Waste Management Policy Statements, numbered 1 to 12 as attached to the report and tabled at the meeting, be adopted, subject to the following amendments:

            (a)        revising point 2 of the Residual Waste section of Policy 4,     Contamination Policy, to read “…contains             any of the following recyclable            materials:…”; and

            (b)        revising section 2(b) of Policy 11, Replacement Containers, to read “…or through the collection vehicle itself or by normal wear and tear, the Council will provide …”.

The Environment Portfolio Holder presented a report on the adoption of new and revised Waste Management Policies.

The Portfolio Holder stated that the Council had in place a number of waste management policies previously introduced at the time of implementation of the original wheeled bin service, which had been substantively updated in September 2009 when the food and garden waste collection was introduced. These policies provided clarity to the Council’s contractor Biffa, residents and Council Officers. It was considered necessary to update and amend these policies and introduce new ones, where necessary, to reflect the comprehensive household collection service that the Council offered.

The Portfolio Holder pointed out that a word had been missed out in Policy 4; the end of point (2) should have read “…any of the following recyclable materials.” and the Cabinet was requested to agree the revised wording. The Portfolio Holder also apologised for Policy 10 having been missed out on the agenda when it was published; this policy was tabled at the meeting and the Cabinet was also requested to agree its adoption by the Council alongside the other Waste Management Policy Statements.

Cllr Philip requested a further amendment to section 2 (b) of Policy 11, Replacement Containers, such that replacement containers would be provided free of charge to the householder if the existing container had become damaged through normal ‘wear and tear’; this was also agreed by the Cabinet.

In response to questions from the Members present, the Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods (Technical Services) stated that paladins were now too large for the refuse vehicles and hence they were not to be used. The Assistant Director also acknowledged that there was no reference to dog waste bins throughout the proposed policies, as dog waste could now be disposed of through normal residual waste and litter bins.

Decision:

(1)        That the Waste Management Policy Statements, numbered 1 to 12 as attached to the report and tabled at the meeting, be adopted, subject to the following amendments:

            (a)        revising point 2 of the Residual Waste section of Policy 4,     Contamination Policy, to read “…contains      any of the following recyclable            materials:…”; and

            (b)        revising section 2(b) of Policy 11, Replacement Containers, to read “…or through the collection vehicle itself or by normal wear and tear, the Council will provide …”.

Reasons for Decision:

It was necessary to update some of the existing policies and introduce new ones to ensure the provision of efficient waste management services throughout the District.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

The main alternative options were considered to be to: retain existing policies and not approve any changes; manage the service with no new policies; or rescind all existing policies and manage the service with no policies.

However, none of the above could be recommended as this would be contrary to the already adopted Essex Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy, would present operational difficulties, hinder achievement of Council’s Key Performance Indictors and adversely impact waste reduction and recycling targets that the Council aspired  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123