Agenda item

The Portfolio Holder provided an initial brief overview with Members, followed by the Environmental Servies Manager who presented the Introduction of Food Waste Collection to Members.

The Government has set a new statutory duty under the Environment Act 2021 to introduce a dedicated separate weekly collection of food waste from all households by 31st March 2026, alongside expanded requirements on dry recycling.

Working closely with Worcestershire County Council (WCC) as the Waste Disposal Authority, the Council were able toaccommodate thechanges todry recyclingwithout anymodification tothe existinggreen binservice.  The report was focusing primarily on the changes required from the new food waste service.  As the Council operated such a service, additional resources were required to operate, and due to the current size restrictions of the depots, were unable to add them to the existing arrangements without significant investment in additional land as well as an expansion of the Operator’s Licence with the Traffic Commissioner and DVSA.

In addition to the challenges regarding space restrictions on providing the service, it would require procurement and delivery of food waste caddies for each property, additional bins for communal properties, and additional dedicated vehicles and staff to collect the waste.

To achieve the Government requirements on time, it was vital that the Council took decisions by the end of January 2026 to allow the procurement of resources to supply the service to residents, either as an in-house service, or through an external provider.

After consideration of the report, Members raised the following:

• Were the proposed bins of a standard size for the food waste collection? – The Board were advised that the proposed food waste bins were proposed to be 40 litre sized bins, paired with a smaller kitchen caddy for household food scraps.
• Were residents aware of the proposed Food Waste Collection Service? – Members were advised that residents had not been informed due to the pressures regarding the uncertainty of timescales and funding allowances from Central Government.  Members noted that if proposals were implemented in Spring 2026, part of the EPR funding, would be to engage with residents. 
• Were the smaller waste collection vehicles being considered as part of future proposals? – It was explained that the Council did use smaller waste collection vehicles to access narrow residential areas and was looking to purchase a new vehicle for the future comb bin proposals.
• Would the Council consider buying the food waste caddies in-house rather than the outsourcing proposals? – The Board were advised that the option had been debated to be incorporated as part of EPR funding to support the purchase of food waste caddies and would be discussed further for future consideration with the new Section 151 Officer.  The group were also advised that the caddies still formed part of the Council’s ownership, despite outsourcing considerations.  The Executive Director added that the Council was in favour of running services in-house, but depot space would require consideration and with time constraints, it had limited Council decisions.  In-house proposals would be considered in the future once the contract agreement had expired.  The Leader of the Council also informed the Board that old bins would be recycled as part of the business case.
• Had the space been procured at an anaerobic digester? – It was noted that WCC had outlined that until the Council could provide a specific start date, they were unable to secure a contract with a potential disposal site to take the material. The Executive Director added that WCC had been in discussions with potential food waste disposal sites to the North and South of the County, with discussions ongoing.  The Leader added that there was a finite amount of capacity at anaerobic sites within the District and stated it was advisable that space be procured in the North of the County, in particular.  The Leader requested a more comprehensive solution to the points raised was agreed to be reviewed as an action.

RECOMMENDED that:

The Cabinet RECOMMEND that:

1)    Subject to the outcome of negotiations, the Council approves the introduction of a joint Food Waste Collection Service, working with Redditch Borough Council and Wyre Forest District Council to deliver the authority’s statutory duties under the Environment Act 2021regarding a Food Waste Collection Service;

2)    The Council allocate £1,000,000 Revenue Funding in the Medium-Term Financial Plan as an operational budget from 2026/27 to fund the Food Waste Collection Service in the Borough, as accounted for within Tranche 1 of the Budget;

3)    Delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director of Environmental and Housing Property Services following consultation with the Section 151 Officer, the Principal Solicitor (Contracts, Commercial and Procurement) and the Portfolio Holders for Finance and Environmental Services respectively to:

a)    subject to the agreement of recommendation 1 above, to negotiate and agree terms with Redditch Borough Council and Wyre Forest District Council to enter into a joint tender for a shared Food Waste Collection Service;

b)    tender and award a dedicated weekly food waste collection service through a third party for a period of 8 years commencing no later than 31 March 2026.