Agenda and minutes

·        29 January 2020

·        5 February 2020

·        12 February 2020

·        19 February 2020

·        5 March 2020

·        21 May 2020

·        25 June 2020

·        23 July 2020

·        30 July 2020

That the minutes of the following meetings be approved:

·        29 January 2020

·        5 February 2020

·        12 February 2020

·        19 February 2020

·        5 March 2020

·        21 May 2020

·        25 June 2020

·        23 July 2020

·        30 July 2020

·        To select appropriate items from the Cabinet agenda for pre-decision scrutiny (cabinet reports enclosed for Scrutiny Members)

The Committee was presented with a report to consider the continuation of kerbside collections for textiles.

Members asked how the community groups or textile banks would be able to get a viable price, if the Council wasn’t able to, by kerbside collection. It was explained that there was no market for recycling the mixed textiles that the Council was collecting; there was a market for the sorted reusable clothing but if the Council were to sort the mixed textiles, the income would need to be greater than the cost of sorting for it to be viable for the Council, which Officers confirmed wasn’t the case.

It was queried whether the Council had a market for textiles collected at the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). Officers highlighted that the Council didn’t have a market for recycling, and that the market was in the voluntary sector who were prepared to undertake the sorting of the mixed textiles. However, the waste company, FCC Environment, who currently operated the Councils sites had access to those markets. It was confirmed that the textiles collected at the Councils HWRCs were going to be sent for sorting.

Officers suggested that Members could share their community experiences with each other to pass on information in relation to alternative arrangements to gauge access to recycling, as there was a number of Cash for Clothes organised across the County Borough; it was also noted that Officers could share details of parties known to be offering Cash for Clothes, and subject to the approval, details of community representatives that organise events. Members highlighted that there was opportunity to raise funds for the community through Cash for Clothes, and even with the current pandemic it could be done safely and social distancing rules could be adhered to. It was added that Members needed to be aware that a lot of textiles were ending up in landfill due to the fact that there was currently a reduced amount of clothing materials being collected.

In relation to timescales if kerbside was to be withdrawn, it was noted that a minimum of one months’ notice would need to be given, also with enough time to communicate the change.

Members asked would the capacity be retained e.g. vehicle design, if the economic circumstances change for kerbside, to which Officers confirmed that it would; it was added that it would be two years before any of the first vehicles were due to be changed.

Concerns were raised in regards to lack of collection of materials due to the pandemic and current lockdown circumstances; if it were to continue for a long period of time, the materials could end up being disposed of in landfill and/or fly tipping instead of correctly.  It was noted that the Council works in line with the national strategy which was very much a high reuse, recycle, compost policy; the material that the Council cannot reuse, recycle or compost goes to Energy from Waste plants opposed to landfill. In terms of members of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.