Colchester to vote on waste strategy review

And, if approved, the appraisal looks likely to examine whether commingled recycling collections should be considered in the historic Essex town.

In a meeting of the cabinet scheduled for October 14, councillors will vote whether to suspend the work of its Task and Finish Group until development of a new strategy can be completed.

The Group, which was tasked with finding a way to reduce landfill costs and boost levels and quality of household recycling, has requested a moratorium on its work until “more detailed research into alternatives for waste and recycling services” is provided.

Chaired by Labour councillor Rosalind Scott, it was also set up “to have particular regard to the types and frequency of materials collected and methods used”.

The Group’s request for a pause in its activities came after it was presented with a report by the council on the recent background of waste management in Colchester, including:

• The recycling and waste service currently provided
• Details of the best performing local authorities
• The collection methods adopted by the best performers
• An explanation of what happens to commingled recycled material
• Tonnage information over the last eight years for recycling and residual waste
• Information on the TEEP Test

Colchester currently carries out fortnightly in-house collections of source separated recyclables from the kerbside.

Paper and card is collected in clear recycling sacks and glass and cans from green recycling boxes one week, and mixed plastics in clear sacks the next. Food waste is collected weekly.

In 2013/14, Colchester council achieved a combined recycling and composting rate of 41.18%.

Review

The council last reviewed its waste strategy in 2008, and to not update the service is “not a desirable position” according to the cabinet report.

If approved, the new waste strategy would be discussed by a scrutiny panel on December 8, again by the cabinet in January, before being debated at a meeting of the full council on February 2016.

The cabinet will then decide whether to revise the terms of reference for the Task and Finish Group or whether its work should continue. The taskforce, set up in October 2014, has only met on six occasions.

The report adds: “Cabinet considers that further consultation with the public will be useful following the development of the waste strategy. This will be considered when the strategy is presented and could form part of a revised terms of reference for the Task and Finish Group.”