Venue: Via Microsoft Teams
No. | Item |
---|---|
Appointment of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson Minutes: Agreed
that Councillor M.Harvey be appointed Chairperson and
that Councillor R.W.Wood be appointed Vice
Chairperson for this joint meeting. |
|
Materials Recovery and Energy Centre (MREC) - Crymlyn Burrows (Enclosed within Cabinet Papers) Minutes: The
Chair explained at the start of the meeting that the Materials Recovery and
Energy Centre (MREC) report was published in open session enabling the scrutiny
committee to discuss the report in public. Clarity
was sought on the use of the incinerator. It was clarified that the Incinerator
was not in use and would be decommissioned and removed as part of the proposals
detailed within the circulated report. It
was noted that the plants are heavily regulated and are controlled from every
aspect, particularly the emissions to ensure there is minimum impact on the
environment. Discussion
took place around whether landfill would be considered as the MREC would not be
incinerating its own residual waste. It was noted that as there are strategy
requirements for limiting the amount of biodegradable waste for landfill, and
recycled incinerator bottom ash counts towards the Council’s recycling
performance, so landfill would be considered as a general solution. Members
discussed whether the business plan would include a clear auditing of the
destinations and disposal methods of the waste. It was noted that information
on material destinations had to be entered in to the National Waste Data Flow
System audited by National Resources Wales for welsh government. Also, as the current contracts for recyclates
are retendered under council procedures there will be closer scrutiny. Members
noted that the next review of the waste strategy would be in 2022. There had
recently been a presentation and update on the Waste Strategy which had been
taken to the Streetscene and Engineering Scrutiny Committee, which followed the
previous All Members Seminars. The previous changes that were made would
require further embedding prior to consideration of another review.
Furthermore, it was highlighted that Welsh Government were also consulting on a
wider circular economy strategy as an update to the national strategy which
would need to be completed before there is consideration on a Local Strategy. It
was noted that new sorting equipment had been proposed and was considered in
the costings within the circulated report. This is in line with the direction
of travel that Welsh Government are heading to ensure a target of no waste by
2050. Members
asked whether there would be any financial implications with these proposals,
due to the recent Covid-29 pandemic. Officers explained the financials to cover
the cost of the £5.5m which is detailed within the circulated report. The MREC was working as normal. The
Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Engineering commended officers for their
work. Following
scrutiny, the committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
cabinet. |