Agenda item

Report of Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Change  

The Committee considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Environment Infrastructure and Climate Change regarding the future of Staffordshire’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) in respect of forward investment, policy review and arrangements for re-use of deposited items (schedule 2 to the signed minutes).

The County Council had a network of 14 HWRCs across Staffordshire together a further jointly funded site at Lower House Farm, Warwickshire, whose primary function was to receive household waste. There was no statutory duty to accept commercial or trade waste at any of these sites.

Since April 2022 the operation of HWRCs had been brought in-house and better access to data had revealed a significant increase in the deposit of bulky and trade waste (especially at the Cannock site). This situation had significantly increased disposal costs and pressure on existing budgets. In addition, there had been minimal capital investment across the network during the time the service had been outsourced. Therefore, various changes to existing policies were being considered with the aim of ensuring residents were not having to subsidise the disposal of bulky/trade waste and to finance improvements, as follows:-

·       Policy 4 (Van and Trailer Use) - Introduce a van permitting or vehicle recognition-based system for vans and cars with trailers used by Staffordshire residents disposing of household waste generated from domestic properties.

·       Policy 15 (Commercial (Trade) Waste) – Option (a) - Staffordshire only business and commercial waste accepted at all sites and increase trade prices per load for larger vans and pro rata increase when traders use cars, small vans and or trailers;

Option (b) - Staffordshire and non-Staffordshire business and commercial waste accepted at larger sites only and increase trade prices per load for larger vans and pro rata increase when traders use cars, small vans and or trailers and;

Option (c) - Staffordshire and non-Staffordshire business and commercial waste accepted at all sites and increase trade prices per load for larger vans and pro rata increase when traders use cars, small vans and or trailers and;

·       Policy 14 (Schools and Charities) – Introduce a short application process which would allow local voluntary groups eg Scouts, litter pickers, village/church halls etc to apply for exemption from charges on a case by case basis.

Whilst it was anticipated that the above-mentioned proposed Policy changes would have minimal impact on the majority of Staffordshire residents, it was proposed to undertake public consultation in order to seek their views, the views of traders and businesses so that, where possible, any concerns or queries could be mitigated.

The re-use of items collected at HWRCs was currently managed by the Katherine House Hospice registered Charity which received approximately 150,000 items per year of which 80% were offered for sale. The current arrangements were due to expire in April 2023. However, negotiations were underway to extend the contract until April 2024 to enable further consideration to be given to a longer-term solution following a separate public consultation.

In the full and wide-ranging discussion which ensued, Members gave detailed scrutiny to the proposed policy changes and investment strategy, asking questions, seeking clarification and raising areas of concern as necessary including:- (i) the arrangements adopted by similar waste disposal authorities for the deposit of bulky and trade waste at their HWRCs including proof of residency; (ii) the need to ensure that any new arrangements were simple for residents to understand and not overly bureaucratic; (iii) the need for effective communication about any changes to be implemented; (iv) the potential for encouraging waste separation by traders at source through an appropriate charging structure; (v) areas for potential investment following the Committee’s site visit on 7 November 2022; (vi) the likely effect of the proposed changes on the incidence of ‘fly-typing’ in the County; (vii) the need to ensure consistency in the application of any changes in policy across the HWRC network; (viii) the status of Parish Council’s under Policy 14 above and; (ix) the lessons which could be learned from the recent introduction of charges for Green Waste collections by Staffordshire District and Borough Councils.

In conclusion, the Committee welcomed news of the investment proposals for HWRCs and stressed the importance of improving the service for the benefit of residents by increasing income from the collection/disposal of bulky and trade waste. Furthermore, they stated their preference for Option (a) above in relation to Policy 15 – Commercial (Trade) Waste.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be received and noted.

(b) That the good performance of the newly internalised service against Key Performance Indicators be noted.

(c) That the proposed changes with regard to Policies 4 (Van and Trailer Use) and 14 (Schools and Charities) above, be supported.

(d) That Option (a) is the preferred change with regard to Policy 15 (Commercial (Trade) Waste) above.          

(e) That the public consultation measures in respect of the proposed changes as set out above, be supported.

(f) That a further update on the proposed changes be brought to the Committee in due course.