To receive a presentation

A verbal presentation delivered by Claire Brandwood, Team Leader – Waste and Prevention updated Members of progress to recycling in Wirral.

Members were advised that Wirral’s recycling performance had remained fairly steady from 2011 at 40.6%, until 2017/18 when it reduced to 33.2%. It was explained that the national target is to reach 50% by 2020. Members heard how Wirral Local Authority has a statutory function to collect household waste set out by controlled waste regulations

The Committee heard an update of Wirral’s recycling performance and Members were advised that: collected recycling had decreased slightly, quality requirements of recycling are much higher and bring bank collections had decreased by 600 tonnes per year. Members were reminded that Wirral is a Waste Collection Authority and that collected waste is consigned to a disposal authority – the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA). Members were informed that Merseyside districts (except St Helens) entered into contract with MRWA regarding what materials can be collected for co – mingled recycling:

Benchmarking information was then provided against the national average and it was reported that dry recycling in Wirral (paper, cardboard, glass, cans plastics) had traditionally been above the national average, however, a decrease in 2017/18 meant Wirral is now below the national average. It was further reported than in 2017/18, 60% of councils saw a decrease in recycling rates.

Members then heard how the national average of composting/ food treatment is 21.1% and that Wirral composting is currently at 11.47%. The Committee were informed that at its highest, Wirral composting (pre subscription) was 15.28%. Members were advised that if Wirral Council were to introduce a separate food collection, it would add approx. 8%, however, there would be affordability issues in introducing this.

Information was provided regarding the waste strategy and it was explained that the strategy would have five pillars, as follows:

·  Becoming a zero avoidable waste economy by 2050

·  Phase out avoidable plastic waste by 2042

·  New targets for waste and recycling, which after Brexit will be the same as the EU’s circular economy package (55% recycling by 2025, 60% recycling by 2030 and 65% recycling by 2035)

·  Stopping food waste going to landfill by 2030.

·  Reforming the packaging recovery note (PRN) scheme.

Details of Waste Management Improvement Action Plan were then provided and Members were informed of priorities including: replacing grey recycling bins free of charge, removal of unauthorised additional bins, an audit of current authorised additional bins and implement audits for all requests for additional bins. Members then heard how the improvement plan alone would not achieve the higher recycling levels required in the future and that the maximum possible with the current system is 42.4%. It was reported that is the authority were to add cartons, aerosols and other plastics it would amount to 44.7% and to add food would amount to 69.7%.

In response to a question Members were advised that other Merseyside Authorities do not charge for garden waste and that when Wirral didn’t have a subscription service they had the best results in Merseyside.

In a response to a further question the Committee were informed that garden and food waste have to be treated separately, therefore, it would not be an option to put this waste together in the brown bin.

Another question was asked about other authorities and the possibility of selling waste to them, working in collaboration, In response, it was reported that this could be investigated.

In a response to another question, the Team Leader for Waste and Prevention commented that the Government had put a lot of resources into the research of new packaging and that she hoped that a solution would come out in a new Government Protocol.

Councillor T Jones requested volunteers for a Recycling Task and Finish Group. Councillors Muspratt, Sykes and Brame put themselves forward

Resolved –

(1)  That the verbal report be noted;

(2)  Councillors Muspratt, Sykes and Brame be appointed to the Recycling Task and Finish Group; and

(3)   the Recycling Task and Finish group be added to the work programme.