Agenda item

Recommendations - That the Executive recommends to Council to:

i.     Accept the DEFRA transitional arrangement to implement separately collected food waste across North Yorkshire from 1 February 2043; and

ii.    Explore options for NYC to implement separately collected food waste at an earlier implementation date and to engage with DEFRA and Government to ensure that an earlier implementation date does not negatively affect our eligibility for funding.

Considered – Report of the Corporate Director – Environment seeking member approval of the DEFRA transitional arrangement to implement separately collected food waste across North Yorkshire from 1 February 2043 and to explore options for an earlier implementation date by engaging with DEFRA and the Government, whist ensuring that an earlier date does not negatively affect funding eligibility.

Michael Leah, Assistant Director for Environmental Services and Climate Change introduced the report, setting out the context around the issue, with three consultations published by Government in 2021, concerning ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’, ‘Introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme’ and ‘Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections’. Of these, the outcome of the ‘Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections’ consultation is still awaited from Government.

In December 2022, a letter from DEFRA to North Yorkshire County Council indicated that in the ‘Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections’ consultation they would be looking to mandate separate weekly food waste collection from 31 March 2025 for the country. However, within that letter to North Yorkshire County Council as the waste disposal authority at that time, given the contractual arrangements at Allerton Waste Recovery Park (AWRP) and the long-term nature of the contract, the difficulties with how this would fit with the proposals were noted.

Therefore, the DEFRA letter asked if the county council would be minded to defer the implementation of separate food waste collections through transitional arrangements to the end of the contract at AWRP in February 2043. Following receipt of the letter, clarity was sought from Government on the financial impact on New Burdens funding in order to help inform a decision, but this has not been received.

There are two options available, the first is to seek an implementation date ahead of 2043, with an option to go live in line with the rest of the country at the end of March 2025. However, as the council is shortly expected to consider options for waste collection harmonisation in North Yorkshire following the move to a unitary council, 2025 is not seen as practical and a date between 2027 and 2030 is seen as more suitable if this option is preferred by members.

The other option is to take advantage of the dispensation offered by DEFRA and go live with separate food waste collections at the end of the Allerton Park Waste Recovery Park contract in 2043. It was highlighted that it has been difficult to model the situation given the lack of clarity over New Burdens funding, but additional costs of approximately £5m could be incurred in the provision of a new food waste collection service.

Councillor Greg White set out that the report recommendation is to go with the 2043 date, however to work with Government around the funding clarity required and to also monitor the implementation of separate food waste collection service by other councils in 2025.

It was highlighted that there are carbon emissions savings associated with separately collecting food waste of between approximately 2 to 3 tonnes per annum, with additional potential carbon benefits from the collection harmonisation process at a future point. But without the New Burdens funding clarity, the financial risk was felt to be too high.

Councillor David Chance supported the report recommendations, with further clarity on the costs required from Government. He did note that the carbon savings needed to be brought forward as quickly as possible.

Councillor Simon Myers reluctantly supported the report recommendations as he wished to see a separate weekly food waste collection service brought in by 2027 when the waste collections are harmonised. However, he also noted the lack of clarity with regard to funding, referencing the letter the Leader sent to the Secretary of Statefor Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on this matter and hoped a positive response would be received to allow the new service to be brought in earlier than the proposed 2043. The Leader explained that the MPs from North Yorkshire were copied into the letter and have separately fed in their views to the Secretary of State.

Councillor Gareth Dadd recognised the choice that the report set out, with a reduction in carbon emissions wanted by everyone, but recognising the further financial detail required in order to make an informed decision and protect council services.

In responding to the comments, Councillor Greg White reiterated the desire to bring in separate food waste collections earlier, if possible, in a phased way alongside the waste collection harmonisation and that discussions with Government would continue.

Resolved – That the Executive recommends to the Council:

i.          To accept the DEFRA transitional arrangement to implement separately collected food waste across North Yorkshire from 1 February 2043; and

ii.         To explore options for NYC to implement separately collected food waste at an earlier implementation date and to engage with DEFRA and Government to ensure that an earlier implementation date does not negatively affect our eligibility for funding.