Agenda item

Consider report by Service Director Neighbourhood Services (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a report by the Service Director Neighbourhood Services proposing that Scottish Borders Council sign-up to the voluntary Household Waste Charter and associated Code of Practice.  The report explained that in 2014 the Scottish Government and COSLA agreed to convene a Zero Waste Task Force to identify recommendations for the transformation of the management of public sector waste into an effective feedstock for the circular economy.  A key recommendation from the Taskforce was that Local Authorities should be empowered and enabled to move towards more consistent recycling collection systems whilst allowing Councils to design services in accordance with local needs and issues.  This approach had now been articulated into the Household Recycling Charter and associated Code of Practice, which had been scrutinised and approved by COSLA Leaders.  The ‘Charter’ was entirely voluntary and it was at the discretion of each individual Local Authority whether to sign-up or not.  A review of the Code of Practice indicated that the majority of Scottish Borders Council’s current kerbside collection services were not compliant with the requirements of the Code.  The most significant changes that would need to be made if Scottish Borders Council was to deliver a Code of Practice compliant service were:

·           Cease providing a comingled collection of Paper, Card, Cans and Plastics (i.e. blue lidded bin) and replace it with two containers. One for Paper and Card and another for Metals and Plastics.

·           Either increase the number of bottle banks or provide a kerbside glass collection service.

·           Consider reducing the volume of non-recyclable waste (i.e. general waste – Grey Bin) collections.

In a joint letter, Councillor Stephen Hagan - COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability - and Richard Lochhead - Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment - had asked that Councils sign up to the Charter.  Formally signing up to the ‘Charter’ did not commit Local Authorities to designing and implementing services that would result in higher costs than currently budgeted for.  The implication of this was that if achieving Charter compliance was affordable (either with or without funding) and efficient this would require the Council to deliver the service changes.  Where there was a funding shortfall, compared to existing budgets, an application would be made to the Scottish Government for financial support. If the application was rejected, no service changes would be required or enforced.  This matter had been considered by the Waste Management Plan Member Officer Reference Group and they supported the recommendation to sign up to the Charter.  It was noted that the Charter did not mention residual waste reduction.  The challenges for a rural authority were also highlighted and it was unlikely that the same service could be provided across the Scottish Borders as this was impractical.

DECISION

AGREED that:-

(a)     Zero Waste Scotland continue to provide support to complete the options appraisal/transition plan;

(b)     following completion of the options appraisal and stakeholder engagement a report would be presented at a future Council meeting for consideration prior to implementation; and

(c)     Scottish Borders Council reserved the right to opt out of the Charter if it was not considered to be in the best interests of the Council.