Cllr Isherwood, Cabinet Member for Environment will give a presentation at the meeting.
Minutes:
Councillor Tony Isherwood, Cabinet Member for Environment gave a presentation on the changes to bin collections across the borough and explained why the changes were necessary.
It was reported that the Council had to find savings of £16m for the 2015/2016 financial year and many options were being considered. Recycling figures had risen from 27% in 2011 to 47% currently but it was hoped that by encouraging more residents to recycle their waste more efficiently the percentage could be raised to 60% or more. This would then help to achieve a saving of over £1m and also help the borough to become greener. The Council was paid £25 per tonne for green bin waste (paper and card) and £25 per tonne for blue bin waste (glass, plastics and metal) it also raised income by producing compost from the brown bin waste (garden and food waste). The new collection rounds would commence in the second week of October and all residents would see a change to their current service.
Brown bins would be emptied every two weeks, blue and green bins would be emptied every three weeks as would the grey bin. The days on which the bins were emptied would also change for some residents.
It was explained that all of the information relating to the days on which the bins would be emptied was currently being delivered to every household in the borough along with information on what to put in each bin.
The Chair invited questions/comments from those present:-
Concerns raised regarding people dumping rubbish in other householder’s bins.
If you were not able to move your bin back onto your property immediately after your bins had been emptied, please ask a neighbour to bring your bin back for you.
Not all residents had received a brown bin.
Give your name and address to members of the team at the meeting and this would be dealt with.
Were Council Offices recycling rubbish?
This was happening across Council buidings. If any staff were not being encouraged to do this then this would need to be flagged up with the Waste Management Team.
Concerns raised by families with babies and young children and nappy waste filling up grey bins and odour controls.
Officers can come to householders and carry out an assessment. If an extra bin was required then this would be provided. It was reported that the blue and green bins would be emptied more frequently.
Would schools be included in the publicity drive?
The Teams were working with local schools. Some children had also designed some of the Team’s leaflets.
Concerns about the quality of liners and not being provided with enough liners.
The quality of the liners had recently been improved and bags could be provided at public meetings/other Council outlets.
Concerns raised regarding the supermarkets overpackaging of products.
Concerns expressed relating the hazards for pedestrians from people leaving their bins on pavements – particularly for wheelchair users and parents with prams.
A question as to whether or not this is an ideological and/or cost saving exercise?
Councillor D Bailey enquired about the possibility of a bin amnesty for those householders struggling with the amount of waste produced?
Councillor Isherwood explained about the work currently being undertaken by the Education Awareness Teams and welcomed feedback from the public. Anyone with further questions/issues were asked to contact their local Councillor or report issues to the Call Centre.
It was agreed:
That the information provided be noted, with thanks.