ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
22 OCTOBER 2008
ITEM 04
STANDING ORDER 4 MOTION: REDUCTION OF PLASTIC BOTTLES
Report of the:
Director of Operations
Contact:
Steve Davies, Ian Dyer, Jon Sharpe
Urgent Decision?(yes/no)
No
If yes, reason urgent decision required:
Annexes/Appendices (attached):
Other available papers (not attached):
REPORT SUMMARY
This report notes the ongoing development of the Council’s approved kerbside
recycling service for plastic bottles for 2009, and highlights actions which officers are
undertaking to publicise waste reduction and recycling.
Notes
RECOMMENDATION (S)
That the Committee recommends that the Council:
(1)
notes progress on the development of enhanced
kerbside recycling services, including the collection of
plastic bottles;
(2)
notes ongoing publicity actions in support of the above;
(3)
notes ongoing liaison with community groups.
1
Implications for the Council’s Key Priorities and Community Strategy
1.1
2
3
The measures within this report will contribute to the Council’s Key Priority to
“promote sustainability and tackle issues of climate change”.
Implications for the Committee’s Key Service Priorities
2.1
The Committee has a Key Service Priority for 2007/08 to “recycle or compost a
higher percentage of household waste”.
2.2
This will be supported by encouraging the full recycling of plastic bottles through the
Council’s new kerbside recycling services to be introduced in 2009.
Background
3.1
At the meeting of the Council on 22 July, Councillor Graham Dudley moved,
seconded by Councillor Clive Woodbridge in pursuance of Standing Order 4 (Motion
for debate):
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ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
22 OCTOBER 2008
ITEM 04
“This Council notes the recently announced trials by UK supermarkets of
selling milk in bags made from biodegradable plastic that can be recycled
and agrees to:
(a) support in principle all initiatives aimed at reducing the number of plastic
bottles sent to landfill sites and saving the energy used in their
manufacture; and
(b) promote awareness of such schemes among its residents”
3.2
4
This matter was referred without debate to the Environment Committee for
consideration and report in conjunction with the motion at the next succeeding
meeting of the Council.
Action taken and Proposals
4.1
The Council has approved the launch, during 2009, of a service to collect plastic
bottles from the kerbside, as well as cardboard and food waste. Progress on this
project is summarised within Item 06 of this Agenda.
4.2
During October and November 2008, officers are undertaking a series of recycling
road shows to publicise these new services. These road shows will aim to:
4.2.1 Raise awareness amongst residents of the new services;
4.2.2 Demonstrate and explain the new services;
4.2.3 Explain and discuss what materials will be collected for recycling;
4.2.4 Engage residents in a discussion of their recycling habits and views;
4.2.5 Highlight and encourage waste minimisation opportunities such as green
shopping, carrier bag reduction, home composting and home food waste
digestion;
4.2.6 Encourage the use of non-plastic or biodegradable alternatives to standard
plastic bottles. Officers will be able to demonstrate more environmentally
friendly alternatives to plastic bottles currently being used by retailers.
4.3
Consistent messages on recycling, green shopping and other waste minimisation
measures will form the platform for all other waste communications, such as
website, Borough Insight and press release messages.
4.4
This process has already begun. The Council is working with other authorities via
the Surrey Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy to encourage waste
reduction (the “3R’s Campaign”)
4.5
Officers have engaged with two community groups within Epsom & Ewell, as
detailed in Item 03 of this Agenda, with the aim of encouraging community action
and discussion on waste minimisation issues.
4.6
Through the Epsom & Ewell Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), the Central Surrey
Council for Voluntary Services is exploring whether the Environment Forum can
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ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE
22 OCTOBER 2008
ITEM 04
take on an overarching role in relation to environmental and sustainability issues.
5
6
Financial and Manpower Implications
5.1
The financial and manpower requirements for these road shows have already been
incorporated into the overall requirements for the publicity of the Council’s 2009
kerbside recycling services.
5.2
Item 03 of this Agenda states that manpower resources to support community
groups is limited.
Equalities and Other Legal Implications
6.1
7
8
9
None.
Sustainability Policy and Community Safety Implications
7.1
The Council’s new kerbside recycling services will increase the borough’s recycling
performance to c.50% and reduce the tonnage sent to landfill.
7.2
Road shows will help to maximise residents’ participation of the new kerbside
recycling services and encourage waste minimisation and the purchase of products
packaged in more environmentally friendly ways.
Partnerships
8.1
Officers will be assisted at road shows by staff from Surrey Waste Management Ltd
and PartnerCHIP.
8.2
Other community action groups, such as the Epsom & Ewell Waste and Recycling
Action Group (WRAG), have been approached to assist in spreading these key
messages amongst residents.
8.3
Materials for road shows have been contributed to by Surrey County Council and
Surrey Waste Management Ltd.
Risk Assessment
9.1
It is natural to incorporate messages on green shopping and waste minimisation in
road shows and other waste communications. No risks are identified.
9.2
Officers have noted that manpower resources to work further with community
groups are limited.
10 Conclusion and Recommendations
10.1
It is recommended that the Committee endorses the actions summarised in this
paper.
WARD(S) AFFECTED: ALL
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