Agenda and draft minutes

The minutes of the last meeting held on 27 January 2025 were approved as an accurate record.

Committee members to declare an interest in any particular agenda item where applicable.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report of Strategic Director Housing, Environment and Healthy Communities

The Committee received a report which provided an update on the future of recycling collections, the current Residual Waste Treatment Contract (RWTC) and the use of the Energy from Waste facility in Teesside.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced on 29 November 2024 an update to the Simpler Recycling Legislation. The update in Simpler Recycling Legislation aimed to ensure consistency in the collection of recyclable materials for households and businesses alike, with a view to reducing confusion and therefore improving recycling rates.

The key clarifications from the legislative update were new default requirements in terms of recycling collections, an updated position on co-collection of recyclable waste streams and guidance on residual waste collections.

The Committee was informed that, in terms of short-term implications for Gateshead, the council had already made the decision not to replace inner caddies in recycling bins for those residents who no longer have one.  Residents are required to put all their dry recycling in their blue bin while the council considers the next most suitable collection method.  Gateshead will be required to complete a written TEEP (Technically, Environmentally and Economically Practicable) assessment that will need to cover both trade and household collections as the current collection system for recycling differs from the new default requirement of segregating fibre out. The current collection contract is due to expire end of March 2027 if all extension periods are used.. The Council will uphold the contract while further information on the new legislation is released. A new tendering process will take place before the contract expires.

In relation to the requirement to offer separate collections for food waste, Gateshead  along with partner authorities South Tyneside and Sunderland Council, have been granted  a transitional arrangement from Defra, due to the long term 25-year Residual Waste Treatment Contract (RWTC) the authorities are tied into until the end of March 2039. This means that food waste is already being diverted away from landfill  and goes through a process to generate electricity which is fed back into the grid.  It was noted that this transitional agreement would be in place until the expiry of the RWTC.

The committee received a presentation from colleagues at Suez in relation to the  Energy from Waste facility in Teeside.

RESOLVED:

i.                 That the report and presentation be noted. 

Joint report of the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director of Corporate Services & Governance.

The Committee reviewed the completion of the 24/25 work programme.

It was noted that Councillors have requested additional items on Environment enforcement, updates on allotments and Electric Cars.

RESOLVED:

i.                 That the recommendations for additional items on the work programme, as set out above, be incorporated into the work programme planning for 2025/26; and

ii.                That the Committee noted the report.