Agenda item

8.1

The report provides details for the introduction of a 12-week separate food waste collection trial for approximately 8,000 households. The purpose of this trial will be to test the real-life experience of operating food waste collections in Sheffield and inform resource requirements for the future expansion of a permanent food waste collection service across the city. The duration and size of the proposed trial has been determined to provide sufficient data to inform the roll out of food waste collections citywide.

8.2

UNANIMOUSLY AGREED: That the Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee approves the delivery of a 12-week food waste recycling trial, to approximately 8,000 households as detailed in this report; and

The Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee undertook a ballot on the days and areas that should be included in the food waste trial, based on the parameters provided in Appendix 4 of the report to the Committee.

RESOLVED BY BALLOT:

(i)              That the days of collection should be Tuesday – Friday;

(ii)             That for Tuesday the area should be Option 1 (Woodseats, Norton Lees, Meersbrook);

(iii)           That for Wednesday the area should be Option 1 (Chapeltown, Ecclesfield, Burncross);

(iv)           That for Thursday the area should be Option 1 (Arbourthorne, Gleadless Valley); and

(v)             That for Friday the area should be Option 2 (Darnall).

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

The Environment Act was enacted into UK Law in November 2021. This will lead to some major changes to Sheffield’s waste and recycling services, including mandating the introduction of separate, weekly food waste collections. Experience of authorities already operating food waste collections, demonstrates wide ranging performance in terms of public participation in food waste collection services and the amount of food waste collected.

8.3.2

Discussions are underway with Veolia to plan for the delivery of a citywide food waste recycling service. However, the wide-ranging factors and influences on scheme performance, and lack of experience of operating food waste collections in Sheffield makes it difficult to model resource requirements, and associated cost

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

No trial - This would mean that the introduction of a citywide food waste collection service, as mandated through the Environment Act, would be based on a desktop analysis and modelling, and the resource requirements would not be informed by a real life delivery of food waste collections in Sheffield.

8.4.2

Deliver a modified version of the trial over a shorter period and/or with fewer households. This option would reduce the financial cost to the Council for undertaking the trial. However, the collection resources Page 31 Page 12 of 14 5.3 (vehicles and crew would not be fully deployed and there would be minimal saving from this) and the quality and robustness of the service performance data would be reduced.

8.4.3

Carrying out a modified version of the trial over a longer period of time and/or with additional households. This option would incur significant additional costs that would have to be paid by the Council and which could not be accommodated under the current forecasted council

8.1

The report provided details for the introduction of a 12-week separate food waste collection trial for approximately 8,000 households. The purpose of the trial will be to test the real-life experience of operating food waste collections in Sheffield and inform resource requirements for the future expansion of a permanent food waste collection service across the city. The duration and size of the proposed trial has been determined to provide sufficient data to inform the roll out of food waste collections citywide.

8.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee approves the delivery of a 12-week food waste recycling trial, to approximately 8,000 households as detailed in this report; and

The Waste and Street Scene Policy Committee undertook a ballot on the days and areas that should be included in the food waste trial, based on the parameters provided in Appendix 4 of the report to the Committee.

RESOLVED BY BALLOT:

(i)              That the days of collection should be Tuesday – Friday;

(ii)             That for Tuesday the area should be Option 1 (Woodseats, Norton Lees, Meersbrook);

(iii)           That for Wednesday the area should be Option 1 (Chapeltown, Ecclesfield, Burncross);

(iv)           That for Thursday the area should be Option 1 (Arbourthorne, Gleadless Valley); and

(v)             That for Friday the area should be Option 2 (Darnall).

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

The Environment Act was enacted into UK Law in November 2021. This will lead to some major changes to Sheffield’s waste and recycling services, including mandating the introduction of separate, weekly food waste collections. Experience of authorities already operating food waste collections, demonstrates wide ranging performance in terms of public participation in food waste collection services and the amount of food waste collected.

8.3.2

Discussions are underway with Veolia to plan for the delivery of a citywide food waste recycling service. However, the wide-ranging factors and influences on scheme performance, and lack of experience of operating food waste collections in Sheffield makes it difficult to model resource requirements, and associated cost

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

No trial - This would mean that the introduction of a citywide food waste collection service, as mandated through the Environment Act, would be based on a desktop analysis and modelling, and the resource requirements would not be informed by a real life delivery of food waste collections in Sheffield.

8.4.2

Deliver a modified version of the trial over a shorter period and/or with fewer households. This option would reduce the financial cost to the Council for undertaking the trial. However, the collection resources Page 31 Page 12 of 14 5.3 (vehicles and crew would not be fully deployed and there would be minimal saving from this) and the quality and robustness of the service performance data would be reduced.

8.4.3

Carrying out a modified version of the trial over a longer period of time and/or with additional households. This option would incur significant additional costs that would have to be paid by the Council and which could not be accommodated under the current forecasted council