The Chairman, with the agreement of the Committee, brought consideration of this item forward on the agenda. 

The Head of  Environmental and Operational Services presented the report, explaining that the Kent Waste Partnership (KWP) was comprised of the twelve Kent District Waste Collection Authorities, and Kent County Council (KCC) as Waste Disposal Authority. The existing Kent Waste Strategy was adopted by all Member Authorities of the KWP in 2007 and covered the period 2007 – 2027.  The Strategy was now in it’s fourth year and the KWP felt that a refresh of the Strategy was needed and this had been agreed for Consultation by the Kent Waste Partnership Members Board, represented by the relevant Cabinet Portfolio Member from each Constituent Authority.  He brought Members’ attention to the aspects influencing the approach to the public consultation as detailed within the report, and requested Members’ comments on the twenty-one questions posed within the consultation document.

During consideration of  the consultation document a number of queries arose to which the Head of  Environmental and Operational Services responded.  He advised that food waste was collected on a weekly basis in Kent.  Authorities using the fortnightly schemes accepted food waste in both collections.  In Sevenoaks it was collected weekly in the black sacks.  A further option was to have food waste collected separately each week for composting, which would incur an additional cost for a separate receptacle and separate collection.  New Members’ attention was drawn to the Household Waste, Recycling and Composting Working Group Report (9 September 2010).  Both raw and cooked food waste was acceptable for collection as an in vessel composting method was used at the site, but only raw vegetable food waste could  be used for open air composting such as home composting – which needed to be encouraged.   It was felt that leading retailers should be encouraged to contribute in the whole process of reducing all types of packaging.  The Head of  Environmental and Operational Services informed Members that KWP were currently working with a major retailer in Kent on reducing unnecessary packaging, and if successful this could lead to a national reduction and other retailers following the lead.  Talks were also being held with the packaging industry.  He explained that some packaging however was necessary to lengthen shelf life and avoid food waste. 

A Member was concerned that he had not seen the ‘Love Food hate waste’  campaign, which surprised the Head of  Environmental and Operational Services as it had been a successful campaign.  The new Government proposals for packaging only carrying "sell by" or "use before" dates were discussed, and viewed as a good way to deter the public from wasting good food. 

The Head of Environmental and Operational Services asked Members whether they felt the KWP recycling and composting target rates of 45% for 2015 and 50% for 2020 were realistic.  He advised that the dates were set by EU legislation but could be brought down if felt appropriate.  Sevenoaks were not the lowest performers, the Kent District average was 39% and Sevenoaks District was about 32% at the moment. 

Members asked whether it was possible to mention the Ideal Waste Company Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at Swanley, on the ‘Suggested Way Forward’ part of the consultation.  It was agreed that this could be promoted on the basis of the proximity principle.

The Head of Environmental and Operational Services reported that landfill had been a cheap disposal option in the past.  There would always be a small need for landfill for inert waste but an increase in the disposal price per tonne, due to the escalating landfill tax levy, was now making it more comparable with sending residual waste to the Allington waste to energy plant.  However at the moment KCC were contractually tied to contracts with other landfill sites which had remaining capacity.  In response to a question he explained that methane was often collected and used, even if just on the landfill site operation, but it was difficult to capture all of this and a lot still escaped to the atmosphere.

Resolved: That the Chairman and Head of Environmental and Operational           Services, collate the comments made and forward an appropriate response on behalf of the Committee to the Kent Waste Partnership in response to the Consultation on refreshing the Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy.