Agenda item

The Waste and Recycling Manager presented the Panel with information on Single Use Plastics, as attached.

The Communications Manager explained that as well as the environmental impact of single use plastics, the Panel needed to consider issues such as littering, personal responsibility and behavioural change.  She explained that the Council did run campaigns to promote recycling, they also provided information such as bin calendars and details of what could and could not be recycled.  Work was also carried out in schools and face to face with the public to ensure that the right things were being recycled and to reduce contamination.

The Panel was informed that the Council preferred to educate and inform the public, however it was acknowledged that enforcement action could be taken as a last resort, for example for fly tipping.

The Panel was reminded that this item was brought to the Panel for consideration at the request of several Members.  Officers sought Members assistance in the way forward.

The Chairman thanked the Waste and Recycling Manager and the Communications Manager for their report and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Mrs Wilkinson asked about recycling blister packs from medication.  The Waste and Recycling Manager explained that because blister packs were made up from multiple components they were often not recyclable.  However the cardboard box that they came in could be recycled. 

In response to a question from Councillor Mrs Bower it was explained that newspapers were sent to North Wales for recycling and there was a good market for this at the moment.  The Waste and Recycling Manager acknowledged that there was not a market for some grades of paper, however the recycling contractor had a ‘zero to landfill’ policy and this resulted in a cost to dispose of this material. 

Councillor Parish suggested that the Council should look at reducing the areas of waste which caused litter and contamination, for example single use plastics.  He felt that there was a lot of plastic used which was unnecessary.  He referred to a scheme running in Hunstanton in which businesses would refill water bottles and he asked if this could be extended throughout the Borough.  He also made reference to incineration and how it was a way of getting rid of waste and creating energy.

The Communications Manager explained that the Council could review their Procurement procedures and look at alternative ways of working.  She explained that Members needed to determine the Councils approach. 

Councillor Mrs Westrop suggested that the Panel needed to look at existing and future campaigns to reduce waste, procurement and Council Policies.  She explained that she had initially requested that the item be considered by the Environment and Community Panel after some Members had raised concern about the use of single use plastics in publicity campaigns.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Long referred to comments made about the incinerator and reminded those present that previously residents had not wanted an incinerator and therefore the Council had opposed it.  He explained that contractor had ‘zero to landfill’ policy and did incinerate some waste.

Councillor Bubb referred to packaging materials and explained that they needed to be recyclable as well and that the Council needed to set an example for the public.

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Bambridge referred to plastic water bottles and explained that often the label on the bottle was not recyclable, so she often used glass bottles instead.  She explained that it was important to look at behavioural changes, for example encouraging people to bring their own shopping bags.

In response to a question from Councillor Hipperson, the Waste and Recycling Manager explained that paper residue was often put on fields.  He explained that this provided additional structure to the soil and the de-inking process contained phosphorous which was beneficial to soil and was cheaper than using chemicals.

The Chairman recommended that the Panel establish an Informal Working Group to look at issues in more depth and report back to the Panel in due course.

RESOLVED:

1. An Informal Working Group be established to look at Single Use Plastics.

2. Councillors Bower, Bubb, Fraser, Parish and Westrop be appointed to the Informal Working Group.

3. The Informal Working Group to report back to the Environment and Community Panel at their meeting on 5^th March 2019.