Issue - meetings

(A report by Jason King, Director of Communities)

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, Councillor Callum Butler, presented a report by the Director of Communities which proposed a delivery model for the Council’s statutory food waste collection service, due to commence in April 2026 in accordance with the Environment Act 2021.

The report presented two options for vehicle procurement:

·         Option 1A: the purchase of a separate fleet of smaller food waste vehicles, retaining the existing refuse collection fleet.

·         Option 1B: the acquisition of dual-compartment “pod” vehicles capable of collecting both general and food waste simultaneously, thereby replacing the existing fleet.

The preferred option, Option 1B, was recommended on the basis of operational efficiency, environmental benefit, and cost-effectiveness, with projected annual savings of approximately £615,000 compared to Option 1A. Members were advised that due to a 40-week lead time for vehicle delivery, a decision was required in order to place orders by June 2025.

Members discussed the report and commented as follows:

·         Clarification was sought on a number of matters, including the future of the existing refuse fleet, the anticipated number and cost of new vehicles, and the procurement process. Questions were also raised regarding the availability of government funding, the impact on staffing requirements, and the timing of the report’s presentation to Council.

·         It was noted that changes to collection routes would be necessary under either option, and that a full route optimisation review would be undertaken as part of the implementation process.

·         The Portfolio Holder confirmed that responses to the points raised would be provided in writing where appropriate.

The recommendations were moved by Councillor Callum Butler and seconded by Councillor Anne Dorrian.

Resolved:

1.    That the drawing forward of £2.010m from the capital programme allocation for 2027/28-2028/29 to 2026/27 to fund the capital costs of purchasing food waste collection vehicles be approved;

2.    That slippage of £0.840m in the Capital Programme allocations for Food Waste for 2025/26 into 2026/27 to fund the capital costs of purchasing food waste collection vehicles be approved; and

3.    That an addition of £0.130m to the capital programme in 2026/27 to fund the capital costs of purchasing food waste collection vehicles be approved.

(A report by Victoria Burgess, Assistant Director – Neighbourhoods)

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, Councillor Callum Butler, presented a report by the Director of Communities which outlined the Council’s response to the requirements of the Environment Act 2021. The Act mandated the introduction of weekly food waste collections from all households by April 2026.

An assessment of the options was included within Appendix 1, setting out the financial costs of each option and the service delivery impacts on both residents and the current service. Capital financing details were provided within Appendix 2. The preferred option involved the procurement of 14 new pod vehicles, identified as the most economical, viable, and environmentally sustainable solution. Due to a lead time of over 40 weeks, it was recommended that the capital programme be brought forward to allow for timely ordering.

Members ware advised that the proposed changes would necessitate a full review of collection routes, which would likely result in changes to collection days for many residents. In addition, the introduction of the food waste service would coincide with the cessation of the current side waste policy, which allowed up to four additional bags to be placed alongside bins. The rationale for this change included improving recycling rates, enhancing staff safety, reducing incidents of fly-tipping, and identifying properties with potential overcrowding issues.

Councillor Butler highlighted the following key points:

·       The introduction of weekly food waste collections from April 2026 was a statutory requirement under the Environment Act 2021.

·       Two options had been assessed for delivering the service, with pod vehicles identified as the most cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution.

·       An order for 14 new pod vehicles had to be placed by June 2025 due to a lead time of over 40 weeks; and the capital programme would need to be brought forward to accommodate the purchase.

·       A full review of collection routes would be required, likely resulting in changes to collection days for most residents.

·       The current side waste policy, which allowed up to four additional bags alongside bins, would be withdrawn alongside the introduction of food waste collections.

·       Reasons for removing side waste included:

o   Low recycling rates (currently around 39%);

o   Health and safety concerns for collection staff (e.g. risk of injury from sharp objects);

o   Prevention of fly-tipping and misattributed waste; and

o   Identification of overcrowded or problematic properties.

·       Boston was currently the only council in Lincolnshire still accepting side waste with wheeled bins.

·       Aligning the removal of side waste with the food waste rollout would allow for a single, coordinated communication and transition effort.

Members discussed the report and commented as follows:

·       Strong support was expressed for the removal of side waste, particularly due to health and safety concerns for collection staff.

·       Members welcomed the alignment of the new food waste service with the withdrawal of side waste, allowing for a single, coordinated transition.

·       It was noted that the changes would help improve recycling rates and reduce fly-tipping incidents.

·       Assurance was given that officers would provide support and engagement to help residents adapt to the new arrangements.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91

A presentation by the Assistant Director – Neighbourhoods

The Portfolio Holder Councillor Callum Butler introduced the report, with the Assistant Director for Neighbourhoods updating members with a presentation.

The Portfolio Holder advised members that Central Government were mandating that all local authorities undertake the collection of food waste separately from general waste from April 2026 under the Environment Act of 2020.  The move would have a huge impact on the Council’s waste collection service from the vehicles used to the how the waster would be collected.  The cost would be offset by Government funding initially, but the Council was still waiting further clarification, and officers had felt it best to provide a presentation on the proposal at the current time, as to what it would mean for residents and the Council.

The Assistant Director for Neighbourhoods advised that the Environment Act had introduced ‘simpler recycling’ which covered a provision of consistent collections of recycled material by all Councils in the country. Boston was consistent with that via the provision of the Blue Bin used for recycling.  However, the other stream introduced would be a weekly food waste collection to all households.

Extended Producer Responsibility was about packaging waste, so extended producer responsibility was changing the way that local authorities were being funded in the way that they collect and disposed of packaging and that's packaging, whether it's in the residual waste stream. So, any packaging waste that is in litter bins that the authority collects from.
The way that EPI would work would be that the local authorities would be paid be given a payment for the provision of efficient and effective services.
The producers of packaging would pay a would be obligated to pay a fee.
Simple recycling had been implemented for a number of reasons.  It would reduce confusion and make recycling easier because there is a requirement for producers to label all their packaging with whether it can or cannot be recycled and it would improve recycling rates. It would also enable the councilto produce a higher quality recycler and to some degree produce a higher quality of service.  It would also help to tackle the environment impacts of food and plastic waste, and also there was a real push to help grow the UK recycling industry.
In terms of the government's timeline, the arrangements for food waste were set out after significant consultation and the results of the consultation which had been published along with the secondary legislation.
The council had received capital funding of £728,646  to enable them to purchase vehicles and caddies in order to deliver food waste collections and further funding would follow, but local authorities are due to receive what's called transitional funding for food waste collections.
The council had to recycle all waste streams including those of businesses. so, businesses will have to recycle to. The transitional funding would meet the costs of communications engagement, everything you need to do to get ready for the implementation.   The Council would be procuring around 33,000 street caddies to be presented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 78