Issue - meetings

The Governance & Civic Manager presented the report to the Committee.

The Committee had agreed to undertake a review of effectiveness of the Council’s waste collection and disposal education as part of its 2023/24 Work Programme.

The issue was initially raised due to concerns of contamination rates within recycling waste collections, creating additional costs to the Council through contamination charges.

The Committee had put together 11 recommendations, as outlined in the attached Appendices, which would aim to ensure that the Council’s approach to waste disposal advice and education was reaching all target audiences, reduce current contamination rates, and improve recycling rates by way of increased resident participation.

To date, 9 out of the 11 recommendations had been achieved: 1 recommendation had been with the intent to complete in 2026; 1 recommendation was marked ‘Alert’ as it was not able to be completed due to Local Government Reorganisation implications.

The continued access issues to provide disposal education in schools was discussed.

The Committee was informed that whilst the amount of burgundy bin material recycling had increased, garden waste collected in Quarter 1 2025/26 had been 500 tonnes lower than Quarter 1 2024/25 due to the extended hot, dry spring and summer 2025 conditions.  This had resulted in a lower combined recycling rate.

On the current and future collections of food waste, the Strategic Director of Services stated commercial waste collections had commenced April 2025 and domestic / household waste (which included schools) collections would commence April 2026.

To a question on the feedback on the disposal education materials provided to schools (if access was not achieved), the Strategic Director of Services informed this information could be requested.

During a discussion of bulky waste collections, the Strategic Director of Services had noted that North East Derbyshire District had 25% more households and around 650 incidences of fly tipping per annum.  The District, in comparison, had around 1,400 per annum, despite its more rural nature.

The Housing Strategy and Development Officer observed the District had more communication / infrastructure links than North East Derbyshire District – a likely reason for the higher figure.

The Strategic Director of Services informed the Assistant Director of Streetscene, Community Safety and Enforcement was undertaking efforts to bring Enforcement of this issue into the Council (it was currently a shared service with North East Derbyshire District Council).

Moved by Councillor Rita Turner and seconded by Councillor Emma Stevenson

RESOVLED that: 1) Scrutiny Members note the progress against the review recommendations;

2)    Scrutiny Members acknowledge any exceptions to delivery and clarify the additional action required by the service;

3)    Scrutiny Members make its report and findings public, in accordance with Part 4.5.17(4) of the Council’s Constitution; and,

4)    Officers continue to implement the recommendations and submit a further report in six months’ time highlighting progress and any exceptions to delivery.