The inspection looked at the council’s waste management and recycling services and the future waste strategy. The inspectors gave the service two out of three stars because the council has clear corporate aims and said that they thought the service will definitely improve because of the strong and competent waste management team and because waste management is a high profile service within the council.
Inspectors praised the way the council works in partnership with five district councils and Peterborough City Council and is preparing a joint waste and recycling strategy for the next 20 years. The district and city councils are responsible for collecting waste while the county is responsible for its disposal. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough's consultation process was used in government guidance earlier this year on how best to carry out a public consultation.
The inspectors complemented the county's initiatives which include the “Slim Your Bin!” campaign, the “recycling bus” and sale of over 40,000 home composting bins which have helped to achieve a recycling rate of 12% and a composting rate of 8%. The volume of waste generated in Cambridgeshire in 2000/01 rose by just 1.1% and the amount landfilled has decreased as a result of these initiatives.
Awareness
Lewis Herbert, Waste Team Leader, Cambridgeshire County Council said: “We are very happy with the report but we have a lot of work to do.” Mr Herbert said that they will concentrate on increasing awareness through an improved education programme and try and increase the participation in kerbside collection to reach a recycling target of 33% by 2003/4.
But Mr Herbert said that the limited markets for recyclables is a problem and that in rural areas he hoped composting will make a major contribution to recycling rates. Mr Herbert added that the Waste and Resources Action Programme's announcement of the paper mill competition will make a major difference to finding markets for recyclables.
Andy Walford, acting regional director, central region best value inspection service, said: “The council’s robust approach to procurement through new contracts should secure service improvements and cost effectiveness. The service is responding well to the tough challenge of increasing costs and volumes of waste. There is also good and improving joint working arrangements with partner collection authorities, which is critical for success.”
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