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Matter for
Decision
In the Government’s Review
of Waste Policy 2011 it identified preventing and reducing food waste sent to
landfill from commercial businesses as a priority.
Unlike household premises
educational establishments and businesses are currently unable to have a
segregated food waste collection service provided by the City Council.
The Council is currently
undertaking a survey of existing commercial customers and it is anticipated
that a high proportion of those responding will be interested in food waste
collections. Officers are aware that a number of customers from the education
sector have expressed an interest and it is therefore anticipated that food
waste collections would be welcomed by many of Cambridge’s business and the
education sector. It is proposed to
start a food waste service for businesses utilising
existing resources with vehicles becoming multi use. Initially the scheme is
expected to be self-financing and in the future some income forthcoming to
secure the future sustainability of the service.
Decision
of Executive Councillor for Environmental and Waste
Services
i.
Approved a food waste collection
service for businesses and educational establishments to begin in April 2014.
At this stage this service would not require any capital investment as it is
proposed to use existing vehicles which will become multi use. The scheme would
initially be self-financing.
ii.
Approved that any net profit generated from the service be retained
to support vehicle and bin R & R contributions for the first 3 years, at
which point a review will be undertaken and a decision made as to the capital required
for the service as a more specialised vehicle may be required. If capital
investment is not required the money will be returned to the general fund as a
saving.
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 Refuse & Environment.
In response to Members’ questions the Head of
Refuse & Environment said the following:
i.
The survey to ascertain interest in food waste
collections had been running for circa three months. Information had been
published in this time to signpost the survey.
ii.
Officers have contacted restaurants etc to show how they could reduce food disposal costs
through targeted food waste disposal instead of using general landfill.
iii.
Higher/further education establishments and other
organisations would be approached as well as restaurants.
iv.
Cambridge BID was expected to support the food
waste disposal service.
v.
Profits from the service would be ring fenced to
grow it from scratch. Funding could be allocated to the general fund when the
service has been established (as was normal council practice).
The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.
The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.
Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor
(and any Dispensations Granted)
No conflicts of interest
were declared by the Executive Councillor.