MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE REPORT
Service Response to Environment Scrutiny Panel’s Final Report - Recycling and Packaging Reduction
Executive Member for Streetscene & Transport: Councillor Paul Thompson
Director of Environment: Mike Robinson
Date 25th May 2010
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
- The purpose of this report is to seek Executive approval for the Service response to the Environment Scrutiny Panel’s report on Recycling and Packaging Reduction
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
- It is recommended that the Executive adopt the action plan in response to the scrutiny panel’s recommendations
IF THIS IS A KEY DECISION WHICH KEY DECISION TEST APPLIES?
It is over the financial threshold (£75,000)It has a significant impact on 2 or more wards
Non Key / x
DECISION IMPLEMENTATION DEADLINE
- For the purposes of the scrutiny call in procedure this report is
Non-urgent / x
Urgent report
If urgent please give full reasons
BACKGROUND AND EXTERNAL CONSULTATION
- The Scrutiny Panel’s investigation covered a wide scope of issues, including the Council’s recycling policies, performance and waste education programmes, as well as examining the broad scope of packaging reduction at the local and national level.
6. The panel outlined seven conclusions, those being:
- The significant increase in recycling levels in Middlesbrough in recent years (albeit from a low starting point) - although national targets still remain aspirational.
- The opportunity presented by the Council’s new recycling contract (operational from April 2010) to increase recycling levels further.
- The fact that recycled materials from the energy from waste plant still cannot be included in recycling targets.
- The Council being well placed to lead on waste reduction and recycling.
- The weak powers available to enforce on packaging reduction - local authority action alone cannot address this issue.
- The important role of consumers in packaging reduction.
- The fact that over 90% of waste produced nationally is from sources other than households.
7.Based upon these conclusions the panel made the following recommendations:
- That, following the introduction of the Council’s new recycling contract in April 2010, the Environment Scrutiny Panel monitors recycling levels and, considers what action, if any, is needed to further increase levels.
- That the Council continues to press, at a national level, for the inclusion of recyclable materials from the energy from waste plant in recycling levels.
- That the Environment Scrutiny Panel’s 2006 recommendation relating to recycling from Council buildings is revisited, with such recycling being further developed and encouraged.
- That the Environment Scrutiny Panel is consulted in respect of the exercise to review Middlesbrough’s recycling “bring sites.”
- That an awareness campaign is undertaken in relation to the issue of packaging reduction. This should highlight the importance of this issue in reducing overall waste levels and the part that the public can play in bringing pressure to bear on producers to use less packaging.
- That the Council lobbies relevant national bodies in pressing producers and retailers to reduce the amount of packaging that they produce and in pressing the Government to consider how sources of waste other than household/domestic can be reduced.
- That representations are also made to Government to strengthen the powers available to trading standards authorities to take action in respect of excessive packaging.
- The department acknowledges the work of the scrutiny panel and agrees with the recommendations that it has made. As such it has produced an action plan outlined in Appendix A in response to those recommendations.
EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT
- There are no equality implications as a result of the introduction of the action plan.
FINANCIAL, LEGAL AND WARD IMPLICATIONS
10.Financial -None at this time
11. Ward Implications - All Wards are affected
12.Legal Implications - None
RECOMMENDATIONS
13.That the Executive agrees the action plan in response to the Scrutiny Panel’s report.
REASONS
14.The Council need to respond to the Scrutiny Panel’s Report.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
15.Environment Scrutiny Panel’s report Recycling and Packaging Reduction
AUTHOR: Geoff Field
TEL NO: 728513
______
Address:
Website:
Appendix A
SCRUTINY RECOMMENDATION / PROPOSED ACTION / BY WHOM / BUDGET COST / TIMESCALE- That, following the introduction of the Council’s new recycling contract in April 2010, the Environment Scrutiny Panel monitors recycling levels and, considers what action, if any, is needed to further increase levels.
- That the Council continues to press, at a national level, for the inclusion of recyclable materials from the energy from waste plant in recycling levels.
- That the Environment Scrutiny Panel’s 2006 recommendation relating to recycling from Council buildings is revisited, with such recycling being further developed and encouraged.
Progress the alignment of the Mouchel and Council trade waste contracts into a single operation, with a requirement for increased recycling performance from Council offices and public buildings / Ken Sherwood / No Known at this point. / October 2010
- That the Environment Scrutiny Panel is consulted in respect of the exercise to review Middlesbrough’s recycling “bring sites.”
- That an awareness campaign is undertaken in relation to the issue of packaging reduction. This should highlight the importance of this issue in reducing overall waste levels and the part that the public can play in bringing pressure to bear on producers to use less packaging.
- That the Council lobbies relevant national bodies in pressing producers and retailers to reduce the amount of packaging that they produce and in pressing the Government to consider how sources of waste other than household/domestic can be reduced.
- That representations are also made to Government to strengthen the powers available to trading standards authorities to take action in respect of excessive packaging.