Purpose

The Portfolio Holder for Operations will be
asked to make decisions on various elements relating to the
introduction of a food waste collection service as part of the
Government’s ‘Simpler Recycling’
requirements.

Decision

Resolved:
That:
 
1.       The principle of the
introduction of a weekly household separate food waste collection
service from 1 April 2026 be approved to meet new statutory
requirements. Approval is also given for seeking to provide a
commercial food waste collection service to qualifying businesses
from 1 April 2025 to meet new statutory requirements.
 
2.       Delegated authority
be given to the Director for Operations, in consultation with
themselves as Portfolio Holder for Operations, to proceed with
procurement individually and/or collectively with partner councils
of the Suffolk Waste Partnership, to deliver the necessary
equipment in respect of vehicles and bins which is expected to be
funded by new burdens funding as well as any wider waste
infrastructure required.
 
3.       The procurement
outlined in (2) above will need to take due account of the new
procurement legislation that is expected to come into effect later
in 2024.  
 
4.       Agreement be given
to a detailed plan setting out the implementation arrangements for
the new food waste collection service, including that any further
budget provision required to fund this process, be subject to
separate consideration collectively by Cabinet (or, if agreed,
Portfolio Holder for Operations) at a later
date, and if necessary, Council.
 
5.       A period of
engagement be undertaken with all West Suffolk Councillors during
March 2024 setting out the requirements and implications of the new
statutory food waste collection service. This includes the
potential implications of other aspects of the Government’s
‘Simpler Recycling’ requirements, including potential
changes to recycling and residual waste collections.