Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services outlining the implications of the decision to terminate the contract with New Earth Solutions for the treatment of waste, on Easter Langlee Landfill Site and the proposed way forward.  (Copy attached.)

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Councillor Cranston declared an interest in the following item of business in terms of Section 5 of the Councillors Code of Conduct and left the Chamber during the discussion.

With reference to paragraph 10 of the Minute of 25 June 2015, there had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Neighbourhood Services on the implications of the Council’s decision to terminate the contract with New Earth Solution (NES) for the treatment of waste, on Easter Langlee Landfill Site and the proposed way forward.  The report explained that under the NES Contract it was anticipated that the majority of the Council’s Residual waste (i.e. black bin waste) would in future have been diverted from landfill via the Waste Treatment Facility planned for the Easter Langlee Site. The termination of the NES contract meant that residual waste would continue to be landfilled at current levels while an alternative solution was developed and as a result the currently operational landfill void was expected to reach capacity in the Summer/Winter of 2017.  In addition from January 2021, landfill sites in Scotland would no longer be able to accept biodegradable municipal waste without the material having met stringent pre-treatment processes.  In order to comply with these new requirements the Council would either have to treat its biodegradable municipal waste in the Borders prior to landfill, or transfer it out of the Borders for treatment.  The development of a Waste Treatment Facility in the Borders was not a viable option at the current time and an interim solution was required. The development of a permanent waste treatment facility would be considered and evaluated during the development of the new Waste Management Plan in consultation with the Member-Officer Reference Group.  A landfill options appraisal had now been undertaken to assess the options available to manage residual waste in the Borders and ensure compliance with the 2021 landfill bans.  Three options had been considered all of which involved the closure of the landfill site and development of a new Waste Transfer Station but at different points over the period 2017 to 2021.  Following appraisal of the three options it was proposed that Option A, to close the landfill in Summer/Winter 2017 when current capacity had been reached and construct a waste transfer station at Easter Langlee on the old proposed NES site in time for the transfer of waste from all regions onto alternative facilities from Summer/Winter 2017, was the best way forward.  Members received a presentation from the Service Director and the Chief Financial Officer on the proposal which included details of the financial implications and the flexibility to accommodate the new Waste Strategy.  Members discussed the proposal in detail including the use of the same consultants, transporting waste out of the region, the closing of  Easter Langlee landfill site, the waste transfer building, the NES technology and gate fees.  Officers gave assurance to Members that they would be regularly apprised of progress.

DECISION

AGREED:-

(a)     to support and agree the delivery of Option A as outlined in the report;

(b)     to note the capital and revenue costs associated with the delivery and ongoing cost of Option A as detailed in the report; and a

(c)     the budgetary provision for these costs in the roll forward of the revenue and capital plan 2016/17.