Agenda item

Attendee:

-      Silvia Gonzalez-Lopez (Waste Service Manager, City Services)

The Waste Service Manager presented the Draft Newport Waste Strategy 2019-2025 to the Committee to provide context.  The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee had considered a report upon the Wales Audit Office Waste Service Follow Up Review in March 2019, and referred the Monitoring of the Action Plan to this Committee, as it was within its remit.  The Waste Service Manager gave a presentation of the Draft Waste Strategy and the new Action Plan to the Committee.  All actions included in the Draft Strategy are part of the City Services Service Plan monitored by the Committee on a six monthly basis.

Members asked the following:

·      A Member enquired about the nature of the proposed second site.  The Waste Service Manager advised that the second site would be like the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Docks Way.

·      A Member referred to the recycling targets stated on page 35 of the report asked about potential to meet future increases to recycling targets above 70% from Household Waste.  Members were advised that there was no higher target than 70% set by Welsh Government, and that targets had only been set until 2025 presently.

·      A Member asked how much of the 64% 2019/20 target for minimum overall recycling was household waste?  Members were advised that this was up to each Council and that the total performance was calculated on total tonnage.

·      Members discussed food waste, and a Member enquired whether there was a food waste and recycling collection service for restaurants and businesses. It was advised that the Council did not collect and that legislation does not require businesses to food recycle however, this would change in the future and business would need to have proper waste streams for collections in place. While such services could be developed for businesses in the future, the businesses could choose which company would provide their service.

·      A Member enquired about recycling enforcement and monitoring. Members were advised that excess waste is monitored, and people generate waste within their allocated capacity, but sometimes put recycling in refuse bins. The Service area monitors the recycling and speaks to people where identifiable and that the main objective is to create a behaviour change.

·      A Member commended the Action Plan as a comprehensive document with really good  performance levels, and asked how much of the recycling material collected was recycled and where it went.  Members were advised that the Council had a duty to report what is collected on a quarterly basis, not only by tonnage collected but also what material was sent for treatment and where. An example was given of glass which is taken to Cwmbran, it had to be ensured that the property was permitted and then reported where the items went from there. Once the premises took ownership of material then the Council could report. The Officer advised that the benefit of kerbside collections was that the materials quality were good compared to others in the waste industry. Members were assured that there was confidence that the materials were being recycled, and that all of the information was on a website.

·      A Member referred to reports of recycled materials being exported to other countries.  The Officer advised that if this happened the Regulators would take action. The Authority reported where its recycled materials went and were processed in the UK.

·      A Member asked did the Council engage with supermarkets about collecting their food waste? It was advised that the Council could engage but the big firms had national contracts. It was clarified that no supermarket waste came to the Council’s site.

·      A Member asked did the Council make a profit form treating garden waste by compost plant. The Officer advised that this only started a year ago and had certification in April, and they planned to look at outlets to promote the product to make profit.

·      A Member enquired about what the Council did with food waste collected.  Members were advised that the Authority had an inter-authority agreement including Merthyr and Bridgend, for food waste.  The contract had taken account of all costs when fees were calculated for the gate fee for food waste and benefitted from the bio gas and electricity to reduce its fees.

·      Members discussed the high numbers of nappies collected and asked whether there was going to be a way to improve the recycling of nappies.  Members were advised that the Authority is actively looking for alternatives as the recycling percentage from nappies is  very low, with only a few companies recycling them as it has been really expensive so been cheaper to incinerate. However this was being addressed by Welsh Government and conversations taking place with other Councils. Plans were in place, and alongside this would be the promotion of the real nappies scheme.

·      A Member suggested that a Visit for Members of the Committee to the recycling centre be arranged.  Members were advised that this could be arranged.

·      A Member asked whether there were any plans to encourage small businesses upon reduced packaging, fruit without plastic, etc. The Recycling Shop was visionary and moving that model into other areas could lead by example.  Members were advised that the Council was happy to engage with businesses.

·      A Member asked what was currently being sent to landfill. Members were advised that the amount of household waste was really low at that moment, around 3% maybe of municipal waste, just inert waste and bulky items could be a problem. Municipal waste was recycled or incinerated.

The Chair thanked the Officer for attending.

Conclusion - Comments to the Cabinet Member

The Committee noted the content of the Draft Waste Strategy and Action Plan Update upon progress and agreed to forward the Minutes to the Cabinet Member as a summary of the issues raised.

The Committee wished to make the following comments to the Cabinet Member:

1.   The Committee welcomed the comprehensive report and Action Plan Update presented and acknowledged the levels of performance achieved.

2.   The Committee acknowledged that all Actions included in the Draft Strategy are part of the City Services Service Plan, which will be monitored by the Committee six-monthly.

3.   Small businesses / shops could be encouraged to reduce packaging e.g. fruit without plastic etc.

4.   It was requested that a Visit to the recycling centre for Members of the Committee be arranged.