Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for non attendance were received from Councillor Ricketts who was substituted by Councillor Burgess

Members wished to note that three board members are also Hampshire County Councillors, though none had responsibility for waste.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 June 2024 were signed as a true and correct record.

(NOTE: The Board is required to receive a deputation(s) on a matter which is before the meeting of the Board provided that notice of the intended deputation and its object shall have been received by the Borough Solicitor by Monday 11 November. The total time for deputations in favour and against a proposal shall not exceed 10 minutes)

There were none

(NOTE: The Board is required to allow a total of 15 minutes for questions from Members of the public on matters within the terms of reference of the Board provided that notice of such Question(s) shall have been submitted to the Borough Solicitor by 12 noon on Monday 11 November 2024)

There were none

This report sets out the timescales, container requirements and an update on simpler recycling, but more specifically food waste collections.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Waste setting out the timescales, container requirement and updating on Simpler Recycling, but more specifically food waste collections.

The Head of Waste introduced his report by reminding members that this change had been caused by government collection and packaging reforms to ensure consistency of collections across the country. Councils will need to implement a separate weekly collection of food waste from individual properties by 1 April 2026.

Members were advised that each resident would be provided with a 7ltr caddy, which sits within the household and a 23 litre container for the kerbside. A survey would be carried out to determine the requirements of the boroughs flats and multiple occupation homes.

The Head of Waste advised that the scheme would be monitored to help determine the policy for providing bin liners.

Members were advised that there would be a clear and simple communication programme that would include training/information sharing for the Members. A timetable would be drawn up to show the activity required to introduce the scheme, and would be governed by delivery times on caddies and collection vehicles, currently on a 12-14 month lead time. It would start with the procurement of the caddies which would go out to tender. Members expressed a preference for attracting a UK supplier.The Head of Waste agreed to share this timetable with Members.

In answer to a Member’s question, the Head of waste explained that non compostable single use bags would inevitably end up being used but they were easier to extract from the food recycling stream. Although everything possible would be done to encourage correct use of the scheme, there were currently no enforcement powers in place.

All Members agreed that communication, and in particular local promotion was key, with costings for this built into the revenue budget.

Members were advised that the aim of this initiative was to reduce food waste and therefore success would be measured by a decrease in waste collected. Schemes already in place show a reduction from 65% to 50% once the scheme is established and householders realise how much is being thrown away and the financial implication to the household budget.

In answer to a Members questions the Head of Waste advised that the grant revenue funding from the Producer Responsibilty Grant would hopefully be confirmed later in November.

Members wanted to express their thanks to the Head of Waste for the work involved in producing the report, and how pleased they were he was on the team as it was recognised that there is a lot of work coming in the near future regarding other forms of recycling.

A Member suggested that any policy in regard to food waste recycling should be included in the Climate Change Strategy and the Gosport Food Partnership could be involved. Parks could also be locations for community composters.

The Chairman agreed to move the second recommendation from those needing a decision to those for noting.

RESOLVED: That the Board:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.