A presentation will be given at the meeting.
Minutes:
Councillor Susan Southworth, Deputy Cabinet Member, Sustainable Borough attended the meeting. She was accompanied by Glenn Stuart, Head of Waste Management and Talat Afzal, Recycling and Waste Awareness Officer. Councillor Southworth reported that she was at the meeting to explain the changes to the ways that bins would be collected across the borough and why the changes were necessary.
It was explained that the Council had to find savings of £16m for the 2015/2016 financial year and many options were being considered. The 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.
Currently a lot of what was put into the grey bins could be recycled but wasn’t being. Councillor Southworth explained what materials should go in which bins.
If residents were unsure how they could recycle more, or were concerned about waste such as nappies and other similar products they could ask for a waste audit to be carried out. This would involve a member of the waste management team visiting them to talk through their needs and advise on the scheme.
It was also explained that extra blue and green bins could be requested and would be provided free of charge. Extra grey bins were also available but would incur a £30 administration and delivery charge and the householder would be assessed for need before one was supplied.
If a household had downsized to one of the smaller capacity bins they could request going back to a larger size grey bin and this would be free.
It was asked that all residents tried to recycle as much as possible before requesting a change of bin or extra bin as they may find that by following the scheme, they wouldn't actually require one.
Councillor Southworth also explained that all of the information was available on the Council website and the new collection day information was also available on line. There would also soon be the option to receive e-mail reminders of collections and residents would be able to sign up this shortly.
Councillor Tony Isherwood, Cabinet Member, Environment was also in attendance to assist with answering questions.
Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:
· Mr Worth a local resident explained that he had attended the Bury East Township Forum and had asked a number of questions. He felt that the questions had not been answered satisfactorily so was asking them again:
· Mr Worth questioned the figures quoted in relation to the cost for removing waste and stated that he didn’t think this figure was correct. He had been involved in waste management for a number of years and knew that he could receive this service at less cost.
Glenn Stuart reported that the figures quoted were correct. The contract covered most of Greater Manchester and involved a complex pricing mechanism.
· A member of the public stated that she was currently finding it difficult with the grey bin being emptied every two weeks and asked how she would manage with collections every three weeks. Would she be able to receive an extra grey bin.
It was explained that each request would be evaluated by a waste audit. They would be visited by a member of the waste management team who would explain the scheme and advise on whether an extra grey bin could be supplied.
· A member of the public asked whether all residents had been informed of the changes.
It was reported that all addresses would receive information packs containing a new calendar. Information packs had already been sent to every address explaining the changes and there had been a number of events held across the borough as well as press releases.
· It was stated that the new scheme had just been thrust on the residents with no consultation. The rationale behind this was questioned.
Councillor Isherwood explained that the Council were in a situation where a large amount of savings had to be found due to the cuts that had been made nationally. The change to the waste collections would add to these savings.
There would also be a number of Council service changes being reviewed in the near future which will have to be consulted on.
· A member of the public asked whether Bury would be the only Council with this scheme.
Councillor Southworth explained that there were already a number of councils carrying out 3 weekly residual waste collections in Scotland and in Falkirk the scheme had been extended. It was believed that schemes of this type would be rolled out across many other councils in the future.
· It was asked whether the plastics that were not currently recycled would be in the future.
Councillor Southworth explained that the plastics that were not recyclable in the current scheme were the lowest grade plastics possible and therefore not worth anything in recycling terms. The supermarkets should be encouraged to cut down on their packaging as should the producers.
· A member of the public explained that he would prefer to get rid of the brown bin and use a composter in his garden. It was asked whether this could be done. Could the brown bin be taken away and replaced with a free composter.
Councillor Isherwood explained that there were compost bins available to residents at a reduced rate and this was definitely something that the council could consider.
It was agreed:
That Councillors Southworth and Isherwood and Glenn Stuart and Talat Afzal be thanked for their attendance.