Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport seeking approval of the Waste Management Education and Enforcement Strategy. This strategy will cover all aspects of waste management including litter, fly tipping, graffiti and household waste and recycling. The strategy also includes details of the new glass recycling service, clarifies the council’s policy in relation to all aspects of waste management and includes an education and enforcement framework. The aim of the framework is to provide balanced education and enforcement where justified and to enable the council to undertake prioritised activity in high risk areas to ensure public health and public amenity. The strategy aims to promote and encourage responsible waste management, to encourage recycling and re-use, to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to reduce the costs associated with waste collection and disposal. 

Modified recommendations:

(i)  To approve the Waste Management Policy as attached at Appendix 1.

(ii)  To delegate authority to the Head of City Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to take any necessary steps to implement the policy and to take into account the recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee. 

1. The policy will support the Council in maintaining a clean city. The Waste and Recycling Service is currently undergoing a major transformation programme funded by a grant from the governments Waste Collection Support Scheme. The transformation programme has highlighted the need for an up to date Waste Management Policy that covers all aspects of waste management and the new and changed waste collection and recycling services.
2. Bringing waste and recycling collections and other local environmental quality issues into one policy document will hopefully make it easier for the public to understand the role of the council and the role of residents in helping to make Southampton more attractive and sustainable.
3. The policy will also enable the council to focus its limited education and enforcement resources to areas of high priority that are likely to have the biggest impact on improving behaviour, environmental quality and recycling performance.

1. The policy will clarify a number of waste management and local environmental quality issues and will provide an education and enforcement framework to enable prioritised enforcement activity; to not have the policy would make any education and enforcement activity less focused and less successful. 
2. To continue with the current Collection of Residential Waste and Recycling Policy. This was rejected as the policy will be out of date as new recycling services are rolled out and the policy does not include other areas of waste management such as litter and fly tipping. The previous policy does not include an education and enforcement framework which therefore makes it difficult to prioritise activity.

None.