Agenda item

(Mr. B. Murray, Waste Manager, attended in connection with this item.)

            The Director of Resources and Fleet drew the Members’ attention to the feasibility report that had been undertaken regarding the potential expansion of the brown bin scheme.  She explained the rationale behind the request and referred to the fact that, currently, there was no regular kerbside garden waste scheme for households in the inner-city area and, as previously agreed by the Committee, this report examined the potential for extending the collection to include these areas.

            The Members were advised that the consultants RPS Group (RPS) had used Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and various housing stock databases to first determine the residential property classification and, at this stage, apartments and non-domestic properties had been excluded.  Low-rise properties had then been screened based on their external sizes within the inner-city area and had then been banded into the following categories:

·        [Red] 0 - 75m² = Household with an external area that is unlikely to be suitable for a brown bin;

·        [Amber] 75 - 175m² = Household with an external area that is potentially suitable for a brown bin; and

·        [Green] 175 - 3,000m² = Household with an external area that is likely to be suitable for a brown bin.

            The Director referred to the summary findings of the feasibility report which provided an estimate of garden space coverage based on aerial imagery across 50 sample households in each category.  She advised that, if the proposals were agreed by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, it was recommended that the households categorised as either amber or green within the report would form the basis upon which to expand the brown bin service to the inner-city area, which would involve approximately the following number of households:

            Several Members welcomed the report and the fact that it was so comprehensive.

            Following a query from a Member that those households categorised as red might miss out on the scheme, the Director provided an assurance that those properties categorised in red could be considered operationally on a case-by-case basis to ensure consistency in provision of the service.

            During discussion, Members agreed that they felt that it would be useful to view the map showing the distribution of the households and detailing the addresses of the properties in each specific category.

            The Waste Manager addressed a number of specific queries regarding the ARC21 contract and the tonnages for green waste recycling.     

            Following a query from a Member, the Director advised that efforts were being made to reinstate the glass recycling service that had recently been suspended due to resource issues and undertook to keep the Members updated.

            The Committee

·        agreed that, subject to the approval of the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, the households categorised as amber or green within the report would be the basis upon which to provide the expanded brown bin service to the inner-city area and noted that those categorised as red would be considered operationally on a case-by-case basis to ensure consistency in provision of the service; 

·        noted that the feasibility report would be submitted to the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee for its consideration regarding the potential impact that expansion of the service would have on the capital programme, revenue estimates and the rates setting process; and

·        agreed that, GDPR permitting, a map detailing the addresses of the properties in each specific category be emailed to Members of the Committee.