Agenda item

The Chief Executive reported that the following questions had been received under Standing Order 7(3) and 7(5):

 

Questions asked by Mr Max Hunt CC

 

Incineration

 

1.           The MTFS Report indicates that savings include £985,000 from improved options for the treatment of residual waste. How are these savings to be achieved and what part of that is reduced landfill tax?

2.           What was the cost of treating residual waste in 2021/22 and anticipated in 2022/23, excluding the amount of landfill tax involved?

3.           According to Biffa’s latest Waste Net Zero Report , current research estimates that, on average across the UK, net carbon emissions from energy recovery facilities were 0.34 tCO₂e per tonne of waste, lower than the alternative of landfill (0.452 tCO₂e per tonne of waste) but only where this excludes waste that can be recycled or minimised. In addition the Shepshed Newhurst EFW Incinerator to be used by LCC, anticipates a general reduction in burning plastic waste (calorific value currently calculated at 10.4 CV ),  is the County Council committed to minimise the burning of plastics? 

 

4.           The contract for residual waste covers all “black bag” waste, will the LA monitor the composition of our black bag waste sent to incineration under the new residual contract so that we understand the level of recyclates, food waste and plastics going to incineration?

 

Recycling

 

5.           According to Biffa’s Net-Zero Report, too much waste for recycling is shipped abroad.  Do we have an estimate of the proportion of waste we receive for recycling goes abroad?

 

6.           Of waste processed for recycling, what is the current proportion of contaminated waste from each Collection authority?

 

Reply by the Chairman

1.           Projected savings arise from the use of the new energy from waste facility at Newhurst. The saving figure is made up of landfill tax, haulage and transfer elements which are often blended costs within contract prices and therefore we are unable to breakdown these costs into individual values with confidence. The savings also arise from the use of the new in-house operated waste transfer station at Bardon.

 

2.           The estimated cost for treating and landfilling (excluding landfill tax) residual waste in 2021/22 was £11,200,000. 

 

The estimated cost for treating and landfilling (excluding landfill tax) residual waste in 2022/23 is forecast to be £11,500,000.

 

The ‘treatment’ element of both of the above figures will inevitably include some elements of landfill tax, haulage and transfer which as stated above are often blended costs within contract prices and therefore we are unable to breakdown these costs into individual values with confidence.

3.           The County Council is committed to maximising the prevention, reuse and recycling of plastics to minimise these materials being present in residual waste. We deliver a wide range of initiatives to encourage these behaviours such as ongoing social media campaigns; up to date and relevant content on the Less Waste website including information on the recycling of plastic containers; the provision of grants for prevention, reuse and recycling activities, and working with schools and local communities; delivering talks and workshops to encourage positive behavioural change. There are many options for the reuse and recycling of plastics available, but these do require active participation by residents.

 

The draft Leicestershire Resources and Waste Strategy contains a number of pledges, one of which supports the increased recycling of plastics; Strategy Pledge no. 8: The Partnership shall ensure that the full range of recyclables (as specified by Government and subject to funding) are collected from residents (and businesses where applicable) across Leicestershire by 2025, or as soon as possible when contracts and circumstances allow. This mirrors the Government’s intention to have a standardised set of materials collected for recycling from each house and business across the Country. This will include plastics such plastic film, bottles, trays, pots, and tubs.

 

4.           The contract does not include a formal requirement to monitor composition of black bag waste other than ensuring non-conforming items (such as mattresses/engine blocks) do not get sent to the energy from waste facility. Visual inspections are undertaken to prevent non-conforming wastes from being sent to the energy from waste facility.

 

The County Council has undertaken waste compositional analysis at appropriate points in time. The forthcoming statutory requirements of the collection and packaging reforms remain unconfirmed, once these requirements are clear, the County Council will be in a better position to consider future waste composition analysis work.

5.           In 2020/21, 46% of Leicestershire’s waste collection authority dry recyclable material was sent abroad. In 2021/22, 53% of Leicestershire’s waste collection authority dry recyclable material was sent abroad.

 

6.           In 2020/21, 9.8% of Leicestershire’s waste collection authority dry recyclable material sent to Casepak was contaminated. In 2021/22, 9.5% of Leicestershire’s waste collection authority dry recyclable material sent to Casepak was contaminated.

 

Dry recyclable waste in North West Leicestershire is sorted at the kerbside by collection operatives prior to delivery to the Council depot for further sorting and baling. Any contamination found in receptacles are left in receptacles at the kerbside therefore the percentage of contamination for this area is not known.

 

The average contamination for each waste collection authority delivering dry recyclable waste to Casepak during 2020/21 and 2021/22 combined is shown below.