Decisions

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.

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.