Agenda item

Report of the Director of City Services and Commercial.

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note of the Director for City Services and Commercial which provided an update on the legal requirement for Councils to provide a separate collection of food waste from 2026.

In October 2023 the Government announced the new Simpler Recycling Reforms under Section 45a of the Environment Act 2021. These reforms are intended to make the national recycling system simpler removing confusion over what can and cannot be recycled in different parts of the country. They introduce a new default requirement for households and workplaces to have containers to allow for the separate collection of:

·  Non-recyclable waste.

·  Paper, card, plastic, metal and glass.

·  Food waste (weekly).

Non-household municipal premises such as businesses, hospitals and schools are required to implement the requirements of the reforms by 31st March 2025 (where they have more than 10 full-time employees). Local Authorities are required to implement the collections of these materials from households by 31st March 2026 with micro businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees required to comply by 31st March 2027.

It was confirmed that local authorities would receive capital funding to cover the costs of additional bins and vehicles required to implement food waste collections alongside ongoing revenue funding from 1^st April 2026 to cover the additional costs related to the delivery of the service.

In considering the Briefing Note and the presentation by officers, the Scrutiny Board asked questions, received responses and discussed a number of matters as summarised below.

• Officers were learning from neighbouring authorities that already have a separate collection, although this is not always directly comparable as there are different demographics in each area.
• Plans for collection of food waste from flats are still being developed but each set of flats will be considered separately, and arrangements will be appropriate to existing facilities.
• There was an expectation of a relatively low tonnage for collection, but that the main financial benefit of the scheme is on savings made from not having to dispose contaminated garden waste, rather than income from selling food waste.
• That the exact date for implementation had yet to be agreed, but that the Government’s expectation is currently April 2026.
• The focus of the Communications Strategy with the important aspects being the savings made as well as the environmental benefits and the production of green energy.
• Whether the Council were legally obliged to provide all households with a food waste bin or whether there could be an opt-in option.

• Information was sort regarding the percentage of recyclable materials in Council recycling bins and it was noted that this information would be circulated to the Scrutiny Board.
• Whether new food caddies would be provided as part of the new service.
• Recruitment and staffing for the new service.
• Arrangements that would be in place to cleanse the vehicles.

RESOLVED that the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4):

1.  Notes the actions taken so far to facilitate the requirement for the Council to provide a separate collection of food waste to all residents of the city in 2026.

2. Recommends that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

a)  Ensures that the communication strategy for the introduction of the food waste collection service be robust and emphasise the importance of the environmental benefits and potential cost savings, together with the importance of ensuring that garden waste is not contaminated with food waste.

b)  Considers the provision of food caddies as part of the introduction of the service.

3) That the introduction of the service be further scrutinised by the Scrutiny Board during 2025/26, including progress on Recommendations a) and b) above.