Decision details

Noting from the recent annual report on corporate performance that blue bin recycling rates have decreased over the past year and the proportion of black bin waste has increased, council requests a report to the next Environment & Community Scrutiny Committee enabling focused scrutiny of this situation and examination of potential emphases to reverse these trends and get back on track.

Matter for Decision

The Council meeting on 21 July 2022 noted details about waste and recycling.

Council requested a report to the next Environment & Community Scrutiny committee to consider how this trend in residual waste reduction can be maintained and increased over the coming years.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and City Centre

Noted the analysis of the recycling and waste data recorded during the pandemic period and the actions being taken to conduct targeted behavioral change campaigns and increase opportunities for reuse, repair and recycling.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service.

The Head of Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          The Waste Policy Team was designing behavioural change campaigns that could link with retrofitting training (referenced in earlier minute item).

     ii.          The campaigns would focus on the waste hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle) then offer initiatives to address these such as repair cafes or ‘library of things’ to share ownership and increase usage. Feedback would allow officers to improve the program.

The Executive Councillor said that Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service were looking at what people threw away to target campaigns at areas that threw away food waste etc more than others.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.