Agenda item

Report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment.

The Committee received a report of the Interim Executive Director for Environment, concerning proposed changes to restrictions on domestic and commercial waste on the footway, and a proposal for strengthened communications, education and enforcement approach to improve compliance.

Members discussed the proposals. One area of concern raised was the impacts of the current waste presentation on small businesses that operated within the City, especially those which primarily operated at lunch hours (such as sandwich shops). Members shared concerns received from businesses who paid for extra hours for an employee to present the waste from 6:00pm, or else take the waste home. Members offered suggestions to address these issues, such as the small businesses working with larger restaurants to use their larger commercial waste bins which were lockable.

Members raised that if waste was put out prior to 6:00pm, this was during high footfall periods on the street and could cause further issues, and the changes to the restrictions does bring more flexibility for businesses to put out their waste later. Members heard that the City Corporation offered internal collection for smaller businesses, although there were a variety of businesses that separately collected waste for businesses throughout the City.

Members also discussed issues raised with having waste on the street, which included waste attracting rodents, foxes, and seagulls. Those businesses who put out their waste at 6:00pm may not have it collected until the early hours of the next morning. Vehicles collecting the waste during the nighttime could cause noise nuisances for residents – although on this point the Committee heard that the City Corporation’s fleet was electric which was quieter, and Veolia were transitioning into electric vehicles. The Committee heard that the Time Banding Scheme was introduced in 2012 as waste bags on the street caused further littering from members of the public.

On residential waste, points raised by Members included suggestions to provide residents with sacks or bags for domestic waste, food waste, and recycling, and being clear with communications on the contents of each bag or sack. Other suggestions included ensuring that internal bin storage was provided for residential blocks at the planning stage.

Members heard that there was no perfect solution to the waste presentation restrictions, and the amendment in current arrangements aimed for an incremental improvement. The proposals also included agreement for pro-active engagement with the residential and business communities. It was agreed that the proposed changes would be considered to form part of a trail period, following which there could be a report received at a future meeting of the Committee (the date to be determined) which would report on the outcomes and response to the proposals.

RESOLVED – That Members:

·       Agree the changes to the permitted times for the placement of residential and commercial waste on the footway.

·       Agree a strengthened communication, education, and enforcement approach to help improve compliance.