Resolved:

That the actions set out in the Recycling Improvement Plan 2008 - 2011 summarised at section 4 of the report (CAB 018/089) be endorsed.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES & CULTURE

(S. HALSEY)

Head of Waste Management, Waste Management, Communities, Localities & Culture, (F. Heyland)

Mr Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture, at the request of the Chair in introducing the report:

·                    Briefly summarised the salient points contained therein:

o                    Highlighting in particular that since 2005/06, when Tower Hamlets had recorded the lowest recycling level in England and Wales, there had been a step change in performance but this still fell short of achieving the Government target.  The Authority had therefore agreed a service improvement growth bid, during the 2008/09 Budget process, of approximately £1.85 million, to be used to improve recycling performance.

o                    Drawing particular attention to the action plan set out at Section 4 of the report which set out the specific initiatives which would close the gap between current performance and Government target over the 3 years to the end of 2011, resourced in part by the service improvement growth referred to above, and focused on the best opportunities to improve recycling performance base on an independent waste analysis for Tower Hamlets.

·                    Addressed the matters raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 29^th July 2008, in relation to the report; as set out in the tabled sheet of questions and comments presented on behalf of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the proceedings.

A comprehensive discussion followed, during which the Authority’s proposed Recycling Improvement Plan was broadly welcomed, but which also identified areas where the plan could be strengthened including:-

·                    Placement of young people at the heart of the improvement plan in particular through recruitment to the boroughwide network of resident “Recycling Champions”, and opportunities for the Young Mayor to act as an advocate for such initiatives linked to youth participation work both in a commercial and academic setting.

·                    A robust communications strategy for the initiatives within the Recycling Improvement Plan before they were implemented, and a particular a strand that informed residents how to make good use of the Garden Waste Collection Service.

·                    Recognition during implementation of the planned initiative for food waste recycling in high rise properties that this should apply not only to tenanted social housing but also to privately owned properties of this type, if performance was to move forward. In particular, whilst noting that this type of initiative required significant levels of investment, that a pilot scheme for private rented high rise property be introduced between January and April 2009.

·                    Bringing forward initiatives to work with the owners of free papers, such as London Lite and Metro, and transport operators to minimise waste and maximise recycling particularly in the vicinity of transport hubs.

Mr Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture, and Ms Heyland, Waste Services Group Manager, Communities, Localities and Culture, at the request of the Chair, responded to requests for clarification/ assurance, in relation to a number or matters including:-

·                    Capacity of the Authority’s waste collection/ recycling contractor to deliver services at the required level for example in relation to food waste regular collection was essential in order to avoid long storage periods outside properties.

·                    Service offered by the Authority to local businesses in relation to identifying and meeting their needs in order to avoid long periods of smelly waste storage outside premises.

·                    Recycling rubbish from open air concerts.

·                    Measures to mitigate dumping around the facilities at “Bring Sites”.

The Chair Moved the recommendations as set out in the report and it was: -

Resolved:

That the actions set out in the Recycling Improvement Plan summarised at section 4 of the report (CAB 018/089) be endorsed.