Agenda item

DECISION

1.    To approve the proposal for the introduction of a twin stream recycling collection, expanding the current trial of a separate kerbside collection of paper and card collections to the remaining households within Boston Borough;

2.    To approve the changes to the current waste collection service in relation to the collection of side waste and commercial waste, required to roll out the twin stream recycling service; 

3.    To approve the waste enforcement policy framework; and

4.    To note the Council’s TEEP assessment.

Portfolio Holders and Officer

YS

VB / MF

REASON FOR DECISION

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report, which asked Cabinet to approve recommendations to extend the current trial area for the separate kerbside collection of paper and card to the remaining properties within the Borough.

There were just over 3,000 properties currently taking part in the trial to collect paper and card from the kerbside separately from the mixed recycling, which was presented in the blue recycling bin.

The Council stepped forward in 2019 to trial this new ‘twin stream’ recycling collection service, which had demonstrated that the collections could achieve improvements in both the quality of the recycling collected and an increase in materials captured for recycling, without the additional cost of introducing new collection rounds. Positive feedback on using the service had been received from residents in the trial area.

The Council would be the first in Lincolnshire to extend the service to all properties, which was the culmination of collaborative working with partners in the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership, to meet the objectives of the Lincolnshire Waste Management Strategy.

This improved twin stream recycling collection service would also meet the requirements of the forthcoming national legislation contained in the Environment Bill 2020, and the Council’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.

In conclusion, the Portfolio Holder added that the proposal also supported the Council’s third priority in the Corporate Strategy, agreed in November 2020, for Environmental Awareness and Accountability. Through this priority area, the Council resolved to work with partners to encourage the community to produce less waste and recycle more.

Members thanked the Portfolio Holder and staff for the significant amount of work they had undertaken and expressed satisfaction that Boston was again taking the lead.  The trial had been successful and they believed that it would continue to be when rolled out fully.  There was also satisfaction that feedback from residents who took part in the trial was very positive.

In response to further comments, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that they were looking at measures to increase education with respect to what should be put in the blue bin in order to avoid contamination and improve recycling rates.  They would aim this at not only the public, but also staff and Members. 

With respect to residents living in flats and properties with limited outside space, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that officers were working on this and voiced confidence that that the outcome would be satisfactory to all. The Portfolio Holder added her own thanks to the Assistant Director - Operations and her team for their hard work.

The date of the rollout would be approximately in the middle of April, subject to the impact of the current lockdown, other workloads and the fact that the refuse collectors were out of action due to the virus.

OTHER OPTIONS OR ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

Do nothing - The current method of collecting paper and card in the same bin as the other materials collected for recycling does not provide clean paper fibre and therefore impacts on the value of the product, both environmentally and financially, irrespective of any measures to improve the quality of the waste presented and reductions in contamination.

The current service, which has a high percentage of contaminated recycling, will not enable the Council to meet the Government targets as set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy 2018, and the Environment Bill 2020. It will also not enable the Council to access anticipated funding to be made available nationally which is likely to be dependent on the quality of recycling produced by residents. Paper and card presented separately at the kerbside could be collected by an additional collection round, but there would be a greater cost both financially and environmentally.

RECORD OF ANY CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

RECORD OF ANY DISPENSATION GRANTED

None.