Some of the twelve key pledges for the county include a commitment to encouraging residents to prevent unnecessary waste, for example via a food waste reduction campaign as well as exploring the use of alternative fuels for collection vehicles and the transportation of waste and resources.
Separate food waste collection is also to be implemented across the partnership “subject to confirmation of policy and the provision of funding”.
And, the partnership also pledged to promote reuse services through improving the collection of items at household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) and exploring the development of reuse shops at suitable sites.
The partnership also mentioned an additional pledge to reduce fly-tipping and litter and push education about duty of care when disposing of rubbish.
Leicestershire recorded a 43.1% recycling rate in 2020/21, the most recent Defra statistics. It hopes to raise this to 65% by 2035.
Consultation
The partnership explained that the Leicestershire Resources and Waste Strategy 2022 – 2050 was updated after more than 5,000 people had their say on the draft during a consultation last year.
The partnership continued that 80% of respondents supported its vision of working towards circular economy and contributing to achieving net zero by 2050.
It said that the responses highlighted themes such as resident education about the relationship between waste and climate change as well as putting pressure on packaging producers, with support for a variety of materials collected at the kerbside.
An action plan and timeline has now been developed to track progress until 2050, LWP added, adding that actions will be “subject to funding and changes to policy or other changes in circumstances”.
Waste strategy
Leicestershire Waste Partnership is composed of the seven borough and district councils of Leicestershire, and the Leicestershire county council.
The partnership said that its plans for waste and recycling are now being finalised, with the strategy subject to councillors’ approval. The updated plan is to be discussed at Leicestershire county council’s cabinet on 10 February, with all partner authorities feeding back through their own decision-making processes.
Some of these include Blaby district council, Charnwood borough council, Harborough district council and Melton borough council.
‘Progress’
Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for the environment and the green agenda, said: “We’re making good progress so far as more than 40% of all household waste is currently recycled, but it will take a team effort to reduce even more waste over the coming years.”
Councillor Joe Orson, leader of Melton borough Council and spokesperson for the LWP, said: “I’m pleased so many residents had their say on what happens to their future recycling and waste services. This revised strategy will help inform how Leicestershire will use its resources more efficiently and become a net zero carbon county.”
When approved, the waste strategy will be available to view online here.
Incineration tax
In 2021, the county council expressed concerns about how a potential tax on incineration could impact its waste budget over the coming years. It said at the time that a tax on incineration was “expected to be part of the waste legislation reforms along with food waste collection.”
The council also said a 3.2% increase in household waste volumes due to “increased working from home and unemployment due to recession” will lead to increased costs of £1.1 million in 2021/22 (see letsrecycle.com story).
The council signed a deal with Biffa to treat residual waste in November, in a move which could be worth up to £650 million (see letsrecycle.com story).
Useful links
Draft Resources and Waste Strategy for Leicestershire 2022-2050
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