Adam Wilkinson, Director of Environment and Development Services and Adrian Gabriel, Waste Strategy Manager to report.
Minutes:
Consideration was given to a report, presented by the Director of Rotherham Streetpride Service, outlining the work being undertaken to deliver the Council’s Waste Strategy in the short, medium and long term.
It was pointed out that this would involve the development of contracts in partnership with Barnsley and Doncaster Council’s and the procurement of a major sub-regional waste processing facility as part of the development of a PFI project.
It was reported that it had been determined that each Council would lead on specific elements of work to secure medium and long term options on waste facilities and maintain future service provision.
With the aid of a PowerPoint presentation the Director outlined how the Council would input into the waste procurement plan.
The presentation covered the following topics were explained:-
Service developments from the customer view point – 2000-2007:-
- customer focussed refuse collection;
- 4 Household waste recycling facilities;
- 60 bring sites; blue bag and box scheme;
- green waste collection;
- bulky items collection.
Developments from the Council’s point of view – 2020:-
- development of a Municipal Waste Strategy to acknowledge changes in legislation
- to deliver high recycling rates;
- reduce landfill;
- to deliver a waste processing option
Reference was made to LATS and how they would be operated and to the substantial fines if Councils did not meet the EU target for reducing waste to landfill. A graph illustrated the projected growth rate in the amount of waste which would be produced in Rotherham, together with the limit that the Government had set.
It was noted that the trend initially showed a steady decline due to the implementation and impact of current measures and initiatives. However in the longer term the Council, on current growth rate, would incur substantial penalties by 2020. Reference was made to the control years of 2011, 2014 and 2020 when the LATS would all be set back to zero.
For the longer term the Council was, therefore, looking with Barnsley and Doncaster to construct, through a PFI project, a sub-regional facility to deal with waste by creating energy from waste plant. It was hoped that this facility could be on stream by 2015.
There was however a need to address the period between 2008 and 2015.
Appendix 1 to the report illustrated Rotherham’s Procurement Plan in respect of:-
- Waste collection – to be on an individual Council basis
- Treament of waste – project to be lead by Rotherham
- PFI procurement – project to be lead by Barnsley
- HWRC’s – project to be lead by Doncaster
- Composting – project to be lead by Barnsley
The Director gave a detailed account of the above projects.
Appendix 2 to the report illustrated the three local authorities’ involvement in the PFI project to create energy from waste.
It was stressed that decisions made now would have an effect on future generations
Questions and comments from Panel members:-
- existing staff were praised for the work they have undertaken and the standard being maintained.
The Director ensured that the Panel’s positive feedback would be conveyed to the staff.
- whereabouts on the boundary of the 3 local authorities would the proposed incinerator be located? It was pointed out that similar discussions had been held a decade ago.
This issue was still to be debated.
- how would the proposals be funded and resourced?
At this stage it was uncertain how the proposals would be funded. It was apparent that the Waste Management team was currently under resourced.
- how was it proposed to cope with the ever changing conditions re waste management?
It was acknowledge that this was a big topic and the Team was aware of this.
- were there any proposals to collect plastics in the 2 weekly collection regime?
It was explained that currently plastics could be recycled by taking them to one of the Household Waste Recycling Centres. There were no plans for a streetside collection.
- was there any proposal to check who was using/not using the blue bag/box scheme?
Currently a leaflet drop was done in areas where take up rates were low.
New technology was not yet being used to check use of the blue boxes.
- A reference was made to:-
· the Pay as Throw government trials;
· the need for a longer timescale;
· communal facilities for houses in multiple occupancy;
· European expertise;
· English bad habits and the need to educate people about waste and recycling;
· increased fly tipping. (It was reported that incidents had gone down by 40% over the last two years)
- was there any development of re-usable packaging e.g. milk bottles.
It was pointed out that a major supermarket had already introduced initiatives.
- what control exercises would be carried out to ensure the safety aspects associated with the running of an energy from waste plant.
It was pointed out that all operations within the plant were computer controlled and monitored. It was hoped that the proposed plant would be zero Co2.
- what was Barnsley’s role in the green waste recycling?
It was to bring in an “energy from waste” (EFW) plant to serve both Barnsley and Rotherham. The output from a bio treatment plant in Doncaster would go into the EFW.
The Chair thanked the Director for his presentation and Panel Members for their input. The progress report was welcomed but it was stressed that the issue of finance was a major one for the Council.
Resolved:- (1) That support be given to the overall procurement plan as now reported.
(2) That support be given to the agreement for Rotherham to lead on the development of the sub-regional contract for waste disposal 2008-2015.
(3) That support be given to the agreement for Barnsley MBC to lead on the BDR Waste Partnership Public Finance Initiative (PFI) project for the procurement of a major sub-regional Waste Processing Facility.
(4) That support be given to the agreement for Doncaster MBC to lead on the development of the sub-regional contract for the management of Household Waste Recycling Centres.
(5) That support be given to the proposal to maintain the current arrangements for Refuse Collection services for the period 2008-2015.
(6) That support be given to the proposal for refuse composting arrangements.
(7) That a further report be submitted to the June meeting of the Panel in respect of Streetpride performance/response times.
(8) That a progress report in respect of the Waste Management Strategy be submitted to the September meeting of the Panel.
(The Chairman authorised consideration of the following item in order to progress the matter referred to;-)