Agenda item

To receive a presentation from Stuart Donaldson, Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority.

Report of the Director of Built Environment

The Committee received a presentation from Carl Beer, Chief Executive of the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority in relation to progress against the Joint Merseyside Municipal Waste Management Strategy.

The following headlines were reported on:-

·         The Waste Hierarchy: Prevention being the most favoured option for waste management followed by preparing materials for re-use, recycling, other recovery and disposal.

·         The Merseyside and Halton Waste Partnership serves 1.5 million residents involving 688,000 households with an average 36% recycling rate. Includes 16 Household Waste Recycling Centres, 2 material recovery facilities, 4 Wast Transfer Stations and more than 200 bring bank sites.

·         Delivery of the Joint  Waste Prevention plan with a target in relation to reducing the total amount of waste produced per household, the key themes targetted being: food, textiles, junk mail and home composting.  Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority has been Nationally recognised for its programme of action.

·         Waste Prevention has been progressed by raising awareness and educating communities by advertising on Radio City and Juice FM (over 1,100 broadcasts), over 100,000 magazine adverts, over 43,000 junk mail leaflets stickers and almost 50,000 visits to the “recycleformerseyside” website. 

·         Establishment of the Merseyside Textile Forum which aims to increase re-use and recycling of textiles on Merseyside.  Liverpool University student campuses, 3 tonnes collected from the 5 textile banks.   

·         Progress of the Joint Strategy in relation to Carbon reduction 2013/14 with a target to reduce the carbon emissions from municipal waste management services.

·         Progress of the Strategy in realtion to bahavioural change – for example:  in total over 23,700 people engaged at 312 events through Merseyside Recycling Waste Authority funded education and awareness activities during 2012/13 and those included: 4328 visitors at 170 events at Gillmoss and Bidston Recycling Distribution Centres, 6074 visitors at 70 events at the Southport Eco-Centre and 4523 people at 24 events delivered by other organisations.

The following key headlines were also reported upon:

·         Very good value for money long-term Energy From Waste disposal contract which will save £100’s millions over landfill.

·         Recycling rate over 70% at Household Waste Recycling Centres.

·         6500+ education visits to Recycling Discovery Centres.

·         Community fund projects.

·         Future priorities will be around the circular economy.

·         Collection and Disposal target of 50% by 2020.

The Committee also considered an introductory report to the presentation from the Director of Built Environment that detailed the progress of the Merseyside Waste Partnership against the delivery of the objectives of the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy.

The reported stated that:-

1.    All Merseyside Authorities had ratified the 30 year Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy “Resources Merseyside” that was developed following comprehensive resident and industry consultation.  It was reported that the Strategy was designed to meet and support relevant European and national statutory drivers for Resource (Waste) Management, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy aspirations.  

2.    The aim of the joint waste strategy “Resources Merseyside” was to deliver waste management within the context of wider resource management and climate change by:

·         Recognising waste as a valuable resource

·         Minimising the environmental impact of waste management

·         Preventing the creation of waste on Merseyside in the first place

·         Increasing re-use, recycling, composting and the recovery of energy from waste

·         Reducing the amount of waste to land fill

·         Raising awareness and promoting education in resource efficiency, making it easier for everyone to contribute to sustainable waste management activities

·         Consuming less but producing more

·         Tackling climate change by the reduction of carbon emissions from waste management and support for our Low Carbon economy

·         Protecting and enhancing our environment

·         Using and generating renewable energy and fuels.

3.    The Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Environmental Services) have previously requested an annual update on progress against the strategy.  The report highlighted that Sefton Council was unable to deliver the objectives of the strategy alone and that collective action from all Merseyside Waste partners was required in order that the objectives of the Strategy are achieved in the most economic manner and future direct financial and environmental liabilities minimised.  It was reported that all partners had previously signed a memorandum of understanding to work together for the best mutual interest and this bolsters the statutory based joint working relationships.  A Senior Officer Working Group and operational officer groups meet regularly to progress work streams and projects to deliver the strategy. 

4.    A review of the performance of the Merseyside Waste Partnership in 2012/13 had been undertaken by the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority.  The review formed the basis for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider joint progress against the joint waste strategy objectives.  The annual review was presented by Mr Beer at the meeting. 

5.    The Overview and Scrutiny Committee should continue to review the progress of the Merseyside Waste Partnership in delivering the key objectives of the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy. 

Members raised the following points of observation:

RESOLVED: That

(1)       Carl Beer, Chief Executive for Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority, be thanked for his verbal presentation; and

(2)       this Committee agreed that adequate progress has been made in  2013/14 by theWaste Partnership towards the objectives of the Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy.