A presentation will be given on the evening.
Minutes:
Councillor Susan Southworth, Deputy Cabinet Member for a Sustainable Borough attended the meeting and was accompanied by Glenn Stuart, Head of Waste Management. Councillor Southworth explained that the way bins would be collected across the Borough from the second week of October would be different and this presentation was to explain why.
The Council have to find savings of £16 million for the 2015/2016 financial year. Although re-cycling has improved from 2011 and is up to 47%, it was hoped that by encouraging residents to re-cycle more, that could rise to 60%, in line with other areas in Greater Manchester and add to the savings.
The Council are paid £25 per tonne of blue bin (glass, plastics and metal) and green bin (paper and card) waste. The Council paid £61 per tonne to process waste from the brown bins (garden and food waste) which is composted and available for residents to buy. However, the Council has to pay £284 per tonne to get rid of waste from the grey bins for landfill. Most households can recycle 75% of their waste and it was important people were aware of the cost implications in not doing so.
The main concern from residents seemed to be vermin and maggots if waste was not collected often enough. However, the brown bin, which all food waste should be put in, would be emptied every 2 weeks. With regards to nappies etc. as long as these items are wrapped well, there should be no smell in the grey bin and a public health officer has assured the Council this should pose no risk.
Councillor Southworth also explained that if residents require an additional grey bin then they will be assessed and advised on re-cycling and if it is deemed one is required, then a fee of £30 will be payable for admin and delivery fees. Additional blue and green bins will be available for those who need one.
Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:
· A local resident asked why it cost £284 to get rid of waste to landfill, as he ran a small company and currently paid £115 per tonne to get rid of waste.
Glenn Stuart explained that this was a 25 year contract with Virridor, who had bid and won the contract and were the most economical of all and it was not just Bury but 9 Councils in total, only Wigan Council did not use Virridor. It was owned by Greater Manchester Waste Authority and Glenn would ask for further information and report back to the next meeting to further explain the contract and what would happen at the end of the 25 years.
· Mr Ainsworth asked how much Wigan Council paid?
Glenn stated that they had just awarded a 25 year contract but it was unknown how much they would pay. Wigan were an ‘oddity’ and not with the other 9 LA’s.
· Councillor Cassidy asked if the people with the smaller grey bins who now needed a larger one, would that be free.
Councillor Southworth stated that yes, if residents had down sized but now needed a larger bin, then they would be offered.
· Harry Reed asked who was supposed to empty re-cycle bins in the Parks?
Glenn explained that bins are emptied with no charge to the Parks – if there were any issues, residents should contact their local Councillor or report to the contact Centre.
Andy Hazeldine, from Age UK, also explained that people should donate to Charity shops any unwanted clothing, DVD’s, household goods etc.
· Jimmy Hill stated that once the grey bins were full, black bags would be used and would need collecting, which would be an additional cost to the Council.
Councillor Walmsley reported that 75% of waste should be re-cycled, which means only 25% would need to be put in the grey bins. Bury was leading the way with the bin collections and it was important residents realised all the implications in not re-cycling correctly.
It was agreed:
That Councillor Southworth and Glenn Stuart be thanked for their presentation.