Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Leanne Brady and Sarah Mead.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Environment and Economy Select Committee held on 14 January 2025.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting of the Environment and Economy Select Committee be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive a presentation from the Assistant Director Stevenage Direct Services regarding the Council’s Waste and Recycling service.

PowerPoint presentation slides to follow.

The Chair introduced the Officers in attendance and provided an overview of Stevenage Borough Council’s waste and recycling services, highlighting the team's dedication, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chair informed the Committee that the purpose of the presentation was to introduce waste and recycling, setting the stage for future scrutiny sessions.

Key Points from the Presentation:

Roles and Responsibilities: The Council served as the Waste Collection Authority, while Hertfordshire County Council oversaw waste disposal.

Statistics:

·         38,000 properties served, including 8,500 flats.

·         43 staff members (15 HGV drivers, 28 operatives).

·         495 trade customers.

·         £807,000 income from trade customers in 2023/24, with a net profit of £199,000.

·         Staffing costs: £1.7 million.

·         Net cost per property per week: £1.07.

Collection Arrangements:

·         Gradual replacement of 240-litre refuse bins with 180-litre bins.

·         Multiple recycling containers available upon request.

·         Garden and food waste collected together in 240-litre brown bins.

Waste Processing:

·         75% of general waste sent to energy-from-waste plants.

·         Recycling sent to paper mills and material recovery facilities.

·         Over 30,000 tonnes of material processed in 2023/24.

Legislative Changes and Future Plans:

Simpler Recycling: Standardisation of recycling processes nationwide, aiming for a 65% recycling target by 2035.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers to fund packaging waste disposal, with councils receiving payments.

Deposit Return Scheme: Single-use plastic bottles and cans to carry a deposit charge from 2027.

Food Waste Project:

Implementation:

·         New service to be rolled out to trade customers in 2025 and households in 2026.

·         Weekly food waste collections to be introduced.

·         DEFRA funding allocated in three stages: Capital, Transitional, and Resource Funding.

Challenges and Solutions:

·         Addressing odour control and pest issues in flats.

·         Ensuring compliance with food waste storage regulations.

·         Developing a comprehensive communications plan.

Members asked questions covering a wide range of topics, as set out below, along with the Officer responses:

Waste Travel Distance and Environmental Impact: Officers clarified that waste was sent to sites outside Hertfordshire due to the lack of local facilities. The County Council managed waste disposal contracts, and while new local facilities had been considered, none were currently planned.

Multiple Waste Destinations: Capacity limitations at different facilities necessitated multiple contracts for waste disposal across several locations.

Weekly Food Waste Collections: Officers explained that weekly collections aimed to minimise waste and prevent odour issues. DEFRA funding was available, but its long-term sustainability remained uncertain.

Food Waste Recycling Rate: Officers did not have an exact figure as food waste was collected with garden waste. Previous analysis showed that only 64% of residents used their brown bin (combined garden waste and food waste) and approximately 35% of residual waste was food.

Garden Waste Disposal Methods: In-vessel composting (IVC) and windrow composting were used to process food and garden waste.

Environmental Impact of Kitchen Caddies: Officers confirmed that residents could use their existing containers to reduce unnecessary waste.

Public Street Bins for Food Waste: Officers acknowledged the potential benefits but stated it was not currently feasible due to resource constraints.

Contaminants in Recycling: The most common contaminant was food waste, followed by plastic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider any Part I Business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was no Urgent Part I Business.

To consider the following motions –

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

Not required.

To consider any Part II Business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

There was no Urgent Part II Business.