Agenda item

5:00pm

Recycling

The Environmental Services Manager gave an overview of the recycling service provided by the Council. The recycling/composting rate was highlighted as 46.3% compared to North East Derbyshire District Council at 46% and Bolsover District Council at 47%. A new contractor had been appointed and it was noted that no collection times had changed and that there was a good working relationship in place.

The committee heard that the recycling is bulked up at the Waste Transfer Station in Sheepbridge, the mixed recycling was sent to the Veolia Mansfield sorting facility and the glass was bulked up at Veolia Worksop before being sold on.

A member asked what the Council’s position was on recycling aerosols. The committee was advised that they would be collected in blue bins, metal for recycling could still be sold but plastic earned a better price.

It was noted that one of the principal challenges for the Council concerning recycling was communicating the message to the public. The Environmental Services Manager explained that they were looking to recruit a member of staff with an interest in recycling and a media background to help rectify the situation. There would also be an effort to educate people about single use plastics and their effect on the environment.

A discussion took place on the misconceptions surrounding recycling; which rubbish can be placed in each bin and which items the council does actually recycle. It was observed that a new member of staff with media training would be ideally suited to communicating this information to members of the public via social media and other methods such as stickers on bins.

The Environmental Services Manager was asked if they had considered having recycling bins in the town centre but she advised that these are misused by people and therefore become costly.

A member asked if schools within the Borough were recycling. The Environmental Services Manager explained that school waste is classified as trade waste and would therefore be dealt with differently. This was an area currently undergoing development.

Problem areas within the Borough for recycling and contamination of waste were identified as more deprived areas. Many of the residents in these areas were council tenants; Environmental Services were working with the Housing Team to improve the issues. Particular difficulties were highlighted in flats where there was shared ownership of bins and therefore a lack of responsibility. The current system gave residents three chances when contamination of their bins occurred after which their recycling bins would be removed.

Climate Change

The Senior Environmental Health Officer outlined the range of statutory and non-statutory services Chesterfield Borough Council (CBC) provides to regulate and protect the environment including fly tipping enforcement and littering enforcement.

It was explained that Environmental Services regulate 38 businesses that have an environmental permit and that they also have duties around air quality. There are 2 fixed air quality stations and 40 nitrous oxide monitoring tubes located at various roads around the borough.

An air quality management zone was in place at Brimington and members asked if there were any areas close to the threshold.

The Senior Environmental Health Officer explained that Chatsworth Road, the Hasland bypass area and Lowgates in Staveley were all close and that Derby Road and Whittington Hill were exceeding at certain times but not enough to warrant action.

A member asked how the air pollution could be reduced. The Senior Environmental Health Officer noted that the department

worked closely with Derbyshire County Council as highways contributed significantly to the problem. The Environmental Health Department promoted alternative travel solutions and encouraged walk to school weeks/months, public transport, bicycles and electric vehicles.

The Senior Environmental Health Officer reported that CBC had a direct and indirect impact on climate change in a variety of ways.

·        The Council regulated businesses to make sure they didn’t have excessive consumption rates.

·        Fleet managers recently purchased electric vehicles to reduce emissions and fuel use.

·        The construction materials for buildings were chosen with sustainability in mind.

·        Procurement was carried out with the aim to select the most environmentally friendly, appropriate products.

·        Greener modes of travel to/from work were encouraged.

It was noted that each part of the council had a part to play and a new environmental policy was under development. Environmental Services were also looking inward to make sure that CBC was compliant with all relevant legislation.

The Senior Environmental Health Officer was asked whether the council had spoken to developers about solar panels on roofs and she explained that when planning applications were submitted, the planning department had to consult Environmental Health. The intention was to ask all future developers to include Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points within properties and ideally all properties would be built with solar panels. The Environmental Services department was looking to have an EV charging policy for new build projects as they would be easier and cheaper to install at development stage. The committee were advised that Derbyshire County Council were working with the parking team to put some EV points in Chesterfield and there was already one at the Monkey Park.

The Chair asked that the corporate environmental policy be brought to a future committee meeting for consideration.

The Committee thanked the Environmental Services Manager and the Senior Environmental Health Officer for attending.

RESOLVED –

1.   That the update be noted.

2.   That the environmental policy be brought to a future meeting of the Enterprise and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.