Issue - items at meetings - Communal Recycling Trial

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

1.      That the Cabinet Member notes the outcome of the consultation.

2.      That the Cabinet Member approves the proposals for the trial which will commence by April 2012 and run for a period of 12 months.  The trial will be funded through the PFI reserve.

3.      That the Cabinet Member approves the submission of a bid for Interreg funding towards the costs of the trial. Any funding received from Interreg will reduce the financial burden to the council.

74.1               Councillor West considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place that summarised the response to the consultation proposing a trial of communal recycling in Brunswick and Adelaide ward and permission to begin that trial.

74.2               Councillor West explained that the existing black box recycling service performed less well in the city centre than elsewhere for reasons which included that people have less room to store their recycling, there is a higher turnover of population and many people do not know how to access the service. Plans for a communal recycling trial were set out in the waste strategy and support from Brunswick and Adelaide Wards came through the Community Waste Forum. Cityclean consulted with over 3,000 residents in the area asking them if they want to try communal recycling. 17% of people responded and of those 87% supported the trial.

74.3               Councillor Mitchell communicated her support for the trial. She asked if problems were anticipated for the mixing of recycled and ordinary waste.

74.4               The Head of Projects and Strategy replied the mixing of waste was unlikely as this was not the case at the 100 bring sites in the city but did occasionally happen. He stated Cityclean would monitor this issue as part of assessing whether the trial works or not.

74.5               Councillor Theobald enquired as to the likelihood of Palmeira Square and Brunswick Square participating in the measures in the future.

74.6               The Head of Projects and Strategy replied that he was unsure at this stage as they had not been consulted however, depending on the success of the trial proposed; Palmeira Square and Brunswick Square may decide to join the scheme in the future.

74.7               RESOLVED- That the Cabinet Member-

1)     Notes the outcome of the consultation.

2)     Approves the proposals for the trial which will commence by April 2012 and run for a period of 12 months.  The trial will be funded through the PFI reserve.

3)     approves the submission of a bid for Interreg funding towards the costs of the trial. Any funding received from Interreg will reduce the financial burden to the council.