Lead Member – Councillor Steve Charmley – Portfolio Holder for Physical Infrastructure, Highways and Built Housing

Report of Executive Director of Place TO FOLLOW

Contact:  Mark Barrow 01743 258919

RESOLVED:

2.1           That Cabinet approves in principle the use of a 240-litre wheeled bin for recycling, and the intended roll out plan as described in the report, subject to funding of the project being identified and approved.

2.2     That the preferred option for funding the initiative was as follows:

a)    The Council to bearing the cost of the initiative, which has been estimated at £2.932m.  This option would require material changes to be made to the Financial and Capital Strategies to take account of the cost.  An additional capital cost of £2.932m would be likely to result in an additional revenue cost of £0.335m per annum for ten years.  Revised Financial and Capital Strategies will require full Council approval.

            The Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, Natural Assets & the Green Economy presented the report detailing an initiative for the provision of a 240-litre wheeled bin for recycling to all Shropshire households on request, to be introduced over a 6 month period, starting in Autumn 2021. He added that the wheelie bins would provide an alternative to the boxes currently used for recyclable glass bottles and jars, metal containers and plastic containers and would be available to households if requested but would not be compulsory.

Local feedback indicated that this would make recycling more convenient and would also increase the basic capacity available for this waste resulting in a reduction in the amount of Shropshire waste sent for disposal and an increase in the amount recycled.

Members were supportive of this initiative and the following additional comments were made during the debate:

·         Recovery of costs directly from residents was greatly opposed whilst recognising the need to make residents aware of the costs involved and the impact on the Council’s resources by funding this scheme.

·         The level of take up of the scheme would be interesting; residents of some types of property may find it difficult, e.g. flats, terraced properties

·         Climate change appraisal within future reports needed to be given greater consideration

·         Consideration of emptying bins less frequently (monthly) was not being considered at this time as the anticipated increase in recycling would help cover the revenue costs of the scheme but this could be reviewed at a later date

·         The 240L wheelie bin was a generic size but consideration was being given to the offer of a slimline 120L bin

·         The impact of the awaited Environment Bill may have implications on charging opportunities for local authorities and would be considered in due course.

RESOLVED:

i)             That Cabinet approves in principle the use of a 240-litre wheeled bin for recycling, and the intended roll out plan as described in the report, subject to funding of the project being identified and approved.

ii)            That the preferred option for funding the initiative was as follows:

The Council to bear the cost of the initiative, which has been estimated at £2.932m.  This option would require material changes to be made to the Financial and Capital Strategies to take account of the cost.  An additional capital cost of £2.932m would be likely to result in an additional revenue cost of £0.335m per annum for ten years.  Revised Financial and Capital Strategies will require full Council approval.