Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services on the proposed arrangements and charges for a food waste collection service from commercial premises.  (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.

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Neighbourhood Services proposing that the Council introduce a collection of food waste from non-SBC customers, where requested, for the remainder of 2015/16 and for all commercial premises from 1^st April 2016 at the proposed charge rate set out in the report, and to the sale of biodegradable food waste liners and replacement food waste bin keys.  The report explained that in order to meet the requirements of the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, the Council must, by 1^st January 2016, arrange for a food waste collection service from any commercial premise (except in rural areas) which requested it. A charge for non-SBC Commercial Waste customers was required to fulfil this legal obligation and to recover SBC costs.  Following extensive consideration of the options available and the associated impacts, it had been ascertained that existing SBC Commercial Waste customers could be provided with the service upon request at no additional cost until end March 2016.  An addendum to existing general waste contracts was being made and the condition that there was no reduction in the level of their general waste contract during this period was applied thereby resulting in no subsequent loss of income to the Council. Regular monitoring of the new commercial waste service would take place to manage the service and ensure maximum levels of customer service.  A review of other Local Authority and private sector charges had been undertaken along with an assessment of actual collection, haulage and treatment costs that would be incurred. Other Local Authority charges ranged from £2.18 to £11.99 for the uplift of a 140L wheeled bin. This review resulted in identifying the proposed charges for the new commercial service and these would form part of the 2016/17 Fees and Charges. Collection costs and tonnages would be monitored and a review carried out prior to April 2016 to ensure that proposed charges continued to cover the Council’s costs for 2016/17.  It was essential that the food waste bins were kept hygienic through the use of biodegradable liners and/or regular cleaning of the bin. The Council had therefore purchased large biodegradable food waste liners which would be made available for sale at Council Contact Centres.  In addition, where keys for the lockable lids on the bins provided were lost, these could also be purchased.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the following proposed commercial food waste collection charges with immediate effect:

(a)       The collection of food waste from non-SBC customers, where requested, for the remainder of 2015/16 and for all commercial premises from 1^st April 2016 at the below charge rate.

          Multiple collections in a week would be charged at multiples of the above figures, for example 2 x 140 litre bins collected once a week =£11.80 per week (exc vat).

(b)       The sale of biodegradable food waste liners and replacement food waste bin keys at the below charge rate.