Members considered the report of the Lead Director which provided an update on what measures Biffa would introduce to support each council’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint.  Officers and senior management at each council had engaged with Biffa to consider how this could be achieved.

The councils had an opportunity to further develop a working relationship with Biffa and reduce the CO2 that was currently being produced by waste services.   However, the scale of investment that would be required and potential liabilities made it essential for the councils to understand all of the key considerations, constraints and dependencies.  It was therefore recommended that the Joint Waste and Recycling Committee (JWRC) Members together with the Leader, Deputy Leader and Finance Portfolio Holder of each council participate in a workshop event being planned to take place late May-early June (subject to progress with the UK Environment Bill).

Desired outcomes from the workshop were recommendations for each council to consider and potentially approve later this year.  Those decisions would then inform the scope of a service improvement project that could be managed within the framework of the Joint Waste Contract.

Biffa advised that an Electric Vehicle trial (three vehicles) would be held from 26 April 2021 to 6 May 2021 across the Partnership.  Data, costings and performance would be collated and reported to the JWRC at a future meeting.

After discussion, the JWRC was supportive of the workshop and requested that a date be set before the end of May 2021, and that each Council decide which three Members they would like to attend.  The Lead Director agreed to forward any pre-reading documentation to Members of the JWRC prior to the workshop being held.  Members were encouraged to forward any specific questions to the Lead Director.

RESOLVED: That a facilitated workshop be arranged before the end of May 2021 (date to be agreed) for the Joint Waste and Recycling Committee Members together with three Members of each council, to develop their knowledge and understanding of how carbon neutrality might be pursued through the delivery of waste services.