The West of England Joint Waste Strategy
From December 2007 to March 2008, council members and scrutiny committees had an opportunity to comment and feedback on the Draft Joint Waste Strategy, following extensive public consultation in the summer of 2007. A revised document was presented to the Member Project Board at the meeting in public on Wednesday March in Keynsham. It made recommendations to each individual executive or cabinet to adopt the Joint Waste Strategy, which can be viewed on the www.rubbishorresource.co.uk website
The Joint Waste Strategy is driven by the need to divert waste, particularly biodegradable waste, from landfill sites. Councils who fail to meet government targets for reducing waste to landfill could see penalties of up to £12.7 million in 10 years. It offers a package of waste management solutions for the West of England area, including maximising recycling and reuse, promoting waste minimisation and proposing how the remaining 'residual' municipal waste that cannot be recycled should then be dealt with. It suggests technologies and methods that could be implemented to sustainably manage the residual waste but does not identify sites or locations.
The Strategy proposes a roll out in four phases:
All four councils will co-operate and drive forward a range of joint programmes to reduce waste, encourage re-use and increase recycling and composting. Each of the councils will individually improve its local services and have committed to increase public participation in recycling and re-use initiatives.
Together, all four councils plan to jointly procure an interim solution to divert waste away from landfill prior to 2015. This will need to be brought forward swiftly and is considered a medium term solution.
Bath & North East Somerset have expressed a clear intention to work in the partnership within Phases 1 and 2, whilst continuing to develop our recycling and waste reduction processes to achieve the long term aim of Zero Waste.
Phase 3 will see a three partner group consisting of South Gloucestershire, Bristol City Council and North Somerset, procuring longer term solutions for residual waste over a 25 year period from 2015. The procurement process will not be technology specific and will invite the market to come forward to suggest ways in which the waste can be treated in the safest, most affordable, environmentally friendly way.
Beyond 2020, all four councils agree that decisions on future long term waste treatments should wait until new and evolving technologies are fully assessed and have been established as viable methods of treating municipal waste.
A separate planning document (a Joint Waste Core Strategy) is being prepared which looks at the options for locating waste treatment facilities for all types of waste including the larger amount produced by business and industry in the area. The Preferred Options report will be available for public consultation later in the year.
Further information about the West of England Waste & Planning projects can be found at www.rubbishorresource.co.uk including forward notice of meetings in public.