Issue details

Reduction in Funding for Recycling Credits

Recycling credits are payments made to waste collection authorities by the County Council to support initiatives to increase recycling of waste where disposal costs for residual waste are achieved. The Council is committed to reduce the amount of residual waste and increase recycling.

 

The Government has published its Waste and Resources Strategy which confirms the intent to require that food waste be collected and treated separately by 2023.

 

The County Council has no legal obligation to pay recycling credits to District and Borough councils save in accordance with the criteria set out in Regulations. The Cabinet Member for Environment took the decision to reduce aggregate recycling rate payments by £1m (from £5.6m to £4.6m in total) in 2019/20. The District and Borough councils were given notice that further reductions may follow depending on progress towards a higher performing service and on the County Council’s overall financial position.

 

Progress towards a comprehensive collection service review is slow albeit the County Council has maintained its offer to work with and help fund trialling separate food waste collections. Some progress has been made with some of the collection authorities.

 

The Cabinet Member for Environment will be asked to approve further changes to the funding arrangements with District and Borough councils whilst meeting the requirements of the recycling credit provisions under the Environmental Protection (Waste Recycling) Payments (England) Regulations 2006.

 

The options under consideration include removal of all credits except those that meet the above requirements over one or more years and a partial reduction where credits can be shown to provide an incentive to improved performance. 

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: (All Divisions);

Notice of proposed decision first published: 30/07/2019

Decision due: December 2019 by Cabinet

Lead member: Councillor Deborah Urquhart deborah.urquhart@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Steve Read, Assistant Director (Environment and Public Protection) Email: steve.read@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 22654.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member Environment, via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.

 

Consultees

District and Borough Councils in West Sussex

Environment, Communities and Fire Select Committee, 20 September 2019

 

Democratic Services Contact: Judith Shore Tel: 033 022 26052

Background3: A Prosperous Place

Decisions

Agenda items

Background papers

  • None