Proposed by Councillor Alan Brighouse

Seconded by Councillor Bob Wilkins

Council:

(1)  Is reminded of its support of The Joint Recycling and Waste Management Strategy for Merseyside which includes a commitment to recycle 50% of household waste by 2020.

(2)  Believes that it can reach and should exceed this target much sooner, helping to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint and reduce the amount paid out for waste disposal.

(3)  Is reminded that it agreed unanimously (Council, 12th July 2010, Minute 22) “to request that the Director of Technical Services continues to examine new ways to reduce waste to landfill, such as through the introduction of food waste collections (taking account of existing work undertaken to date), the collection of recyclable material from businesses, increasing the range of recyclable material that can be taken to the council’s recycling collection points and working with MWDA to increase the range of materials that can be placed in grey bins”.

(4)  Instructs the Director of Technical Services to present a report to the next available Sustainable Communities OSC, and calls on the Leader to request a Cabinet report, setting out the contribution and progress Wirral has made since 12th July 2010. This report shall also include, but not be limited to, options for;

(i)  increasing the range and proportion of materials that are recycled;

(ii)  supporting the development of improved facilities and services for the recycling of trade and commercial wastes, recognising that a local green infrastructure will support the development of local businesses;

(5)   Instructs the Director of Technical Services to present a report to the Sustainable Communities OSC, and invites the Leader to request a Cabinet report, before the end of the municipal year proposing a Wirral Council Action Plan that clearly sets out the mechanism by which Wirral will achieve the objectives included in The Joint Recycling and Waste Management Strategy for Merseyside.

(6)  Also calls on the Leader to instruct the Director of Technical Services to work with the MWDA to modernise the levy mechanism and design a new system which more accurately reflects the benefits of recycling and the disposal costs of non recyclable waste.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2)

Proposed by Councillor Irene Williams

Seconded by Councillor Brian Kenny

Amend paragraph (2) as follows:

(2) Believes that (subject to the implementation of a new Levy Payment Mechanism that incentivises district investment in recycling) it can reach and should exceed this target much sooner, helping to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint and reduce the amount paid out for waste disposal.

Amend paragraph 4 (i) as follows:

 “increasing the range and proportion of materials that are recycled with particular focus on materials realising the most carbon savings, such as textiles and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment);”

Amend paragraph (6) as follows:

(6) Also calls on the Leader to instruct the Director of Technical Services to work with the Merseyside Waste and Recycling Authority and other Merseyside authorities to modernise the levy mechanism and design a new system which more accurately reflects the benefits of recycling and the disposal costs of non recyclable waste.

Having applied the guillotine in accordance with Standing Order 7(8) the Council did not debate this matter.

The mover of the motion agreed to accept the amendment and the motion, as amended, was put and it was -

Resolved (64:0) (One abstention) –

Council:

(1)  Is reminded of its support of The Joint Recycling and Waste Management Strategy for Merseyside which includes a commitment to recycle 50% of household waste by 2020.

(2)  Believes that (subject to the implementation of a new Levy Payment Mechanism that incentivises district investment in recycling) it can reach and should exceed this target much sooner, helping to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint and reduce the amount paid out for waste disposal.

(3)  Is reminded that it agreed unanimously (Council, 12th July 2010, Minute 22) “to request that the Director of Technical Services continues to examine new ways to reduce waste to landfill, such as through the introduction of food waste collections (taking account of existing work undertaken to date), the collection of recyclable material from businesses, increasing the range of recyclable material that can be taken to the council’s recycling collection points and working with MWDA to increase the range of materials that can be placed in grey bins”.

(4)  Instructs the Director of Technical Services to present a report to the next available Sustainable Communities OSC, and calls on the Leader to request a Cabinet report, setting out the contribution and progress Wirral has made since 12th July 2010. This report shall also include, but not be limited to, options for;

(i)  increasing the range and proportion of materials that are recycled with particular focus on materials realising the most carbon savings, such as textiles and WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

(ii)  supporting the development of improved facilities and services for the recycling of trade and commercial wastes, recognising that a local green infrastructure will support the development of local businesses;

(5)  Instructs the Director of Technical Services to present a report to the Sustainable Communities OSC, and invites the Leader to request a Cabinet report, before the end of the municipal year proposing a Wirral Council Action Plan that clearly sets out the mechanism by which Wirral will achieve the objectives included in The Joint Recycling and Waste Management Strategy for Merseyside.

(6)  Also calls on the Leader to instruct the Director of Technical Services to work with the Merseyside Waste and Recycling Authority and other Merseyside authorities to modernise the levy mechanism and design a new system which more accurately reflects the benefits of recycling and the disposal costs of non recyclable waste.