Issue - meetings

To brief the re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board on progress in the delivery of the re3 Joint Waste PFI Contract.

The Board considered a report on progress in the delivery of the re3 Joint Waste PFI Contract.  The report covered:

·                  re3 Waste Strategy 2018 to 2020

·                  Climate Change

·                  Trade Waste at the Household Waste Recycling Centres

·                  Reuse Shop

·                  Lakeside Energy from Waste facility

·                  User Satisfaction

·                  Confirmation of Changes to Waste Acceptance Protocol

·                  Receipt of Food Waste at Longshot Lane and Smallmead

·                  Joint Policy on Contamination of Kerbside Collected MDR

·                  Communications

The Board was presented with updated information on the rate of recycling.  Food waste collection in Wokingham had increased recycling by 6.6% in the borough.  Wood recycling had also added to the overall rate in all three boroughs.  The good weather had also contributed to an increase in green waste collected.  The partnership average recycling rate was therefore 47%.  Kerbside recycling was up year-on-year in each borough and contamination had reduced too.  It was noted that

recycling at Longshot Lane and Smallmead would be monitored.

The Board was reminded that all three councils had made commitments to address climate change.  The task for each was now to match their words with appropriate actions.  There had been considerable reductions in use of landfill, but there was a need to identify the means to make decisions from a climate change perspective alongside the commonly used economic and performance perspectives.  The re3 Project Team had explored partnering with the University of Reading.  A proposal had been put forward to set a baseline and identify the most purposeful actions plus communications to bring about behavioural change using the University’s expertise.  Following receipt of the quotation, some clarifications were to be sought before further consideration.  It was suggested that it would be worthwhile investigating what the Local Government Association was doing to support councils.  Oliver Burt undertook to circulate the details of the existing proposal to members of the Board.

The Board was advised that a seven month trial of accepting trade waste from a limited number of re3-based small businesses, was to start on 4 November 2019.  19 businesses from a range of sectors, including a parish council, had signed up to participate in the trial. An update on progress would be presented to the next meeting on 23 January 2020.  The current costs were noted and that these would be reviewed at the end of the trial.

Arising from trade waste trial, the Board was advised of a group which had not been accepted as a charity for the purposes of waste disposal.  It was reminded that the eligibility criteria for the charity scheme was a matter for each council to determine.

The Board also discussed the establishment of a reuse shop.  It was advised that the contractor, FCC, felt that the volume of available material could support one reuse shop at Smallmead or Longshot Lane.  Three possible options were outlined, whilst a fourth involving provision at both recycling centres was also being considered.  It was suggested that providing only one shop could result in longer journeys, contrary to the aim  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14

To brief the re3 Joint Waste Disposal Board on progress in the delivery of the re3 Joint Waste PFI Contract.