Presentation
Minutes:
A presentation was given to the Committee on local, national and local authority waste-related stories that have been in the media.
It was reported that the European Parliament’s Environment Committee has voted to amend the European Commission’s Circular Economy Package. Thereby, increasing the recycling target from 65% to 70% by 2030, and establishing a 50% food waste reduction target. In addition, at least 5% of the 70% recycling target should be in preparation for re-use. However, the Deputy Director of Waste and Recycling at Defra stated that leaving the EU would provide an opportunity to drive up resource productivity in the UK, as much of the UK’s resource policy has been driven by the need to meet EU waste targets. It was noted that a recent report by the Policy Exchange suggested that the EU’s approach has significant shortcomings with unclear objectives and badly-designed targets. The UK’s Environmental Audit Committee has called on Government to introduce a new Environmental Protection Act during Article 50 negotiations, in order to protect the UK’s strong environmental standards.
Committee was advised that the On-Pack Recycling Labels company has announced the introduction of a simplified system. Some of the words have changed on the ‘recycle now swoosh’ and will now also include helpful advice for recycling, such as ‘cap on’ or ‘rinse’.
It was reported that there was a collision at the UPM Shotton paper mill in Flintshire in which a male pedestrian, later confirmed as a contract worker, was struck by a large bucket loader in a fibre recovery warehouse which was carrying out standard operations to move waste paper from the floor into the recycling lines. Unfortunately paramedics declared the person dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was arrested but later released without charge as the collision had not occurred on a public road and the case was handed to the Health and Safety Executive for sole investigation. Committee was reassured that the Partnership recognises the movement of vehicles on all sites as a fundamentally important aspect of the health and safety inspections that are carried out as part of the contract management role.
It was noted that Government is likely to reject proposals for a deposit return scheme on plastic bottles, despite claims that it would increase the collection rate. It was reported that 38.5 million plastic bottles are used every day in the UK, which makes up approximately 40% by volume of the litter found in the environment. The Green Party, Greenpeace and Coca-Cola have supported such a scheme, as well as a petition signed by 190,000 people. However, Defra is currently developing a new litter strategy for England in which ‘single use’ plastic bottles may feature.
The think tank ‘Green Alliance’ has stated that local authorities have an unfair share of the responsibility for reducing waste and increasing recycling. It stated that waste packaging and food waste over Christmas alone will have cost Councils £72m. It was confirmed that the research showed that local authorities spend £300m every year dealing with waste packaging, yet they have no control over how products are designed or packaged. Committee was advised that the research recommended; standardised council recycling collections, producer responsibility payments from packaging companies to Councils, allowing Councils to charge households that are not recycling. In addition a Freedom of Information Act request by Sky News found that less than 10% of councils in England considered their recycling scheme as compulsory for residents. It was noted that this meant that of the 200 councils that responded, only 12 said that they considered their recycling scheme as mandatory and imposed fines for those households not recycling. Committee was advised that no financial penalties have been imposed for households within the partnership area.
It was reported that Aberdeen City Council has recently announce changes to their kerbside waste and recycling collection services, including a reduction in the capacity of their general waste bins. However, collection will continue to be made on a fortnightly basis. Existing bins will be kept to replace the current recycling system and become mixed recycling bins, enabling a wider range of materials to be recycled than previously. It was acknowledged that these changes are linked to the opening of Aberdeen’s new materials recovery facility, which is due to begin service in the Spring. It was highlighted to Committee that a key factor in the Aberdeen service changes is because there is also a separate fortnightly food waste kerbside collection service already in place.
RESOLVED - That the Joint Executive Committee noted the information
presented.