Agenda item

Notice of Motion - Green Bin Collection Changes

At the meeting of the Council held on 17 October 2016 (minute 67 refers), the attached Notice of Motion proposed by Councillor Stuart Kelly and seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell was referred by the Mayor to the Cabinet for consideration.

 

In accordance with Standing Order 7 (6), Councillor Kelly has been invited to attend the meeting in order for him to be given an opportunity to explain the Motion.

Minutes:

At the meeting of the Council held on 17 October 2016 (Minute No. 67 refers), the following Notice of Motion which had been proposed by Councillor Stuart Kelly and seconded by Councillor Dave Mitchell was referred by the Mayor to the Cabinet for consideration:

 

  ‘Council notes:

 

(1)  The Cabinet’s consultation proposals to potentially change Wirral’s residual (green bin) collections by introducing three weekly collections or by reducing the size of the bin from 240ltr to 140ltr at a cost of £1.5 million.

 

(2)  The proposed food collection is intended to divert 10% of the volume of residual waste but that the reduction in capacity for residents will be up to 41%; Council believes this difference will be difficult for families to manage and could result in increased fly-tipping.

 

(3)  The residual waste stream will no longer be sent to landfill and will no longer attract landfill taxes and that the waste will instead be used to generate electricity at the Teesside plant.

 

Council believes:

 

(i).  That funding from the Waste Development Fund should be used to improve the sorting facilities at the Bidston MRF, enabling the full range of plastics to be recovered and that strenuous efforts should be made to develop markets for the materials obtained.

 

(ii).  Any changes to current residual green bin collections are unnecessary and wasteful and calls upon Cabinet to work with, rather than against, householders in increasing recycling yields.’

 

In accordance with Standing Order 7 (6), Councillor Kelly had been invited to the meeting and was in attendance in order to explain the Motion.

 

Councillor Kelly made representations informing that he considered that the options had been flawed and requested that the Cabinet take a step back at this stage and have a re-think.  He set out his view on the benefits of removing food waste from the general waste.  He was concerned about the proposed reduction in the green bin’s capacity and the implications including an increase in fly tipping.  Councillor Kelly proposed that the Cabinet looked at how plastics could be collected and the possibility of working with Cheshire West and Chester Council on this.

 

Councillor Kelly considered that a change of approach was warranted he asked the Cabinet to work in co-operation with people rather than coercing them by reducing the capacity of their bins.

Councillor Bernie Mooney informed that clearly the Administration did not take decisions without thinking things through first.  Everything was being done in a measured and considered way.  The Cabinet had considered the impact of what had been proposed and a full business case was being prepared.  The consultation responses were being worked through and there would be a complete overview and analysis of the comments received. The aim was to ensure that the entire project was designed to meet the needs of residents.  There was also to be a review of recycling across the Liverpool City Region.

 

Councillor Kelly informed that he was grateful for the opportunity to make his case at this conjuncture, before the Business Case was finalised and presented to the Cabinet.

 

Councillor Anne McLachlan pointed out that Cheshire West and Chester Council subsidised the recycling of plastic containers, taking a financial hit and absorbing the costs.

 

Councillor Mooney reported that officers were still looking at ways to recycle plastics.  A considered decision would be made backed by evidence.  The whole initiative was being taken forward one step at a time.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the content of the Notice of Motion be noted and it be considered along with the rest of the consultation findings, the Liverpool City Region review and the Council’s Business Case. 

Supporting documents: