Issue - meetings

Cabinet

(a)          approved the ‘Waste Collection Policies and Procedures’ document as and, in particular, the following three major changes to policy:

(i)            Introduction of chargeable additional garden waste bins (South Cambridgeshire District Council only)

(ii)           Change to monthly organic collection during December, January and February (Cambridge City Council only)

(iii)          Change to 6am start time for domestic waste services (Cambridge City Council only)

(b)          Delegated to the Director for Health and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, and their opposite numbers at Cambridge City Council, the responsibility for approving minor updates to the document to ensure operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

This decision was first published on Friday 9 November and so the deadline for call-in is 5pm on Friday 16 November.

Cabinet

(a)             approved the ‘Waste Collection Policies and Procedures’ document as and, in particular, the following three major changes to policy:

(i)               Introduction of chargeable additional garden waste bins (South Cambridgeshire District Council only)

(ii)              Change to monthly organic collection during December, January and February (Cambridge City Council only)

(iii)            Change to 6am start time for domestic waste services (Cambridge City Council only)

(b)             Delegated to the Director for Health and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, and their opposite numbers at Cambridge City Council, the responsibility for approving minor updates to the document to ensure operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Cabinet considered a report seeking agreement of a single “Waste Collection Service Policies and Procedures” document setting out the service that Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service (GCSWS) would deliver to the residents of both Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire.

Councillor Brian Milnes, Vice-Chairman of the Scrutiny and Overview Committee, said that that Committee had discussed home and community composting as a means of reducing the need for a second green bin.

In response to a question from Councillor Heather Williams, the Health and Environmental Services Director undertook to clarify the extent of administrative costs relating to the issue of additional green bins.

Councillor Peter Topping asked whether there was any evidence that the charge for a second green bin was likely to prompt existing beneficiaries of a second bin to return that bin to the relevant Council. In reply, the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Health and Licensing said that such residents were being encouraged to retain their additional green bins.

Cabinet

(a)             approved the ‘Waste Collection Policies and Procedures’ document as and, in particular, the following three major changes to policy:

(i)               Introduction of chargeable additional garden waste (green) bins (South Cambridgeshire District Council only)

(ii)              Change to monthly organic collection during December, January and February (Cambridge City Council only)

(iii)            Change to 6am start time for domestic waste services (Cambridge City Council only)

(b)             Delegated to the Director for Health and Environmental Services, in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing at South Cambridgeshire District Council, and their opposite numbers at Cambridge City Council, the responsibility for approving minor updates to the document to ensure operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

The Waste Policy, Change and Innovation Manager and Lead Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Licensing presented the report which set out the service that the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service (GCSWS) would deliver for residents of both Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

The committee discussed the report:

·         The high collection rate of bins on the scheduled collection date was noted.

·         Members commented that the 50% recycling rate was good but could be better.

·         It was clarified that the developer normally paid for the bins for new houses. The Council charged for the delivery of the new bins. Charging for additional bins would be consistent across Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Councils. There were no plans for concessionary charges for the elderly.

·         Residents could collect compost free of charge from the Amey Cespa depot. Cambridgeshire County Council sold bags of compost at recycling centres; the GCSWS saw no return from this.

·         The councils wanted to encourage home composting. This was considered the ideal environmental approach to green waste as it was more efficient for residents to compost at home rather than waste crews collecting green waste.

·         The trial of earlier collection times in Cambridge City was welcomed before further rollout.

·         It was suggested that a consciousness raising exercise looking at rubbish as a resource be undertaken.

·         Awareness raising to encourage residents to consider bin lorry access when parking their cars, was suggested.

·         The committee was informed that the service was focussing communications on the issues that residents found confusing, such as which plastics could be recycled for example, to ensure the material the service collected was of good quality and uncontaminated. It was suggested that a campaign focussing on what should not go into the recycling bin as well as what should, would be beneficial.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee noted the report.