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Subject: |
National Resources and Waste Strategy – responses to Government consultations |
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Date of Meeting: |
22 June 2021 |
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Report of: |
Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture |
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Contact Officer: |
Name: |
Satti Sidhu |
Tel: |
01273 296201 |
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Email: |
Satti.sidhu@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
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Ward(s) affected: |
All |
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FOR GENERAL RELEASE
1. PURPOSE OF REPORT AND POLICY CONTEXT
1.1 To deliver the national Resources and Waste Strategy, a number of changes are proposed to national policy and law on waste material and management which the government are consulting on. The proposed changes will have significant implications for Brighton & Hove City Council.
1.2 This report and appendices provide detail on the responses made to three of these consultations and one further response which requires approval from the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on how to proceed. Also contained in the appendices are brief synopses of the consultations.
2. RECOMMENDATIONS:
2.1 That Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee ratify the responses made to consultations on:
· Environmental Principles, which closed on 2 June 2021, and presented in Appendix 1.
· The Extended Producer Responsibility (packaging), which closed on 4 June 2021, and presented in Appendix 2
· Introducing a Deposit Return Scheme, which closed on 4 June 2021, and presented in Appendix 3.
2.2 That Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee delegates authority for officers to complete the response on the Consistency in Household and Business Recycling consultation and submit to government, having consulted with the Chair and committee spokespeople.
3. CONTEXT / BACKGROUND INFORMATION
3.1 The government published the national Resources and Waste Strategy in 2018[1]. Key elements of the strategy have been under consultation for stakeholders to respond to policy changes.
Environmental Principles
3.1 A set of five Environmental Principles have been developed to guide the government in its work and ensure considerations for the environment remain central to policy making. The full consultation document is available in the Background Documents below.
3.2 The closing date for responding to the consultation was 2 June 2021 and has been submitted in advance of this meeting to meet the deadline. Appendix 1 contains the response submitted. The full consultation document is available in the Background Documents below.
Extended Producer Responsibility
3.3 Extended Producer Responsibility (packaging) is being further developed to ensure producers pay the full costs of the waste they produce. The scheme intends to incentivise producers to reduce their use of packaging, adopt reusable packaging where reduction is not feasible, or use easily recyclable packaging.
3.4 The closing date for responding to the consultation was 4 June 2021 and has been submitted in advance of this meeting to meet the deadline. Appendix 2 contains the response submitted and Appendix 4 contains a synopsis of the proposals. The full consultation document is available in the Background Documents below.
Deposit Return Scheme
3.5 The government is consulting on introducing a national deposit return scheme for drinks containers to increase recycling rates and reduce litter.
3.6 The closing date for responding to the consultation was 4 June 2021 and has been submitted in advance of this meeting to meet the deadline. Appendix 3 contains the response submitted and Appendix 5 contains a synopsis of the proposals. The full consultation document is available in the Background Documents below.
Consistency in Household and Business Recycling
3.7 The Consistency in Household and Business Recycling consultation is proposing all local authorities collect a core set of recycling materials, including food waste, to help drive up recycling rates. Appendix 6 contains a synopsis of the proposals and the full consultation document is available in the Background Documents below.
3.8 Officers are reviewing the consultation document and engaging with partners to prepare a meaningful and considered response to meet the 4 July 2021 deadline. It is therefore proposed that the response is informed by conversations with the Chair and committee spokespeople for the other parties.
4. ANALYSIS & CONSIDERATION OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
4.1 The proposed changes being consulted on, if adopted, will become mandatory legislative requirements on local authorities and alternative options are not possible. Exemptions can apply, or be sought, where changes are not technically or economically practicable.
4.2 The consultations are the council’s opportunity to feedback on alternative options.
5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CONSULTATION
5.1 Once the government announce any policy and legislative changes, Brighton & Hove City Council will be in a position to complete public engagement on the changes to services, to understand the impacts for residents and the considerations for the service before any changes are made.
6. CONCLUSION
6.1 The government consultations seek views on radical changes over the next five years, to fundamentally change the way materials and waste are managed.
6.2 Once the outcomes are announced we will be in a position to understand the likely impacts on services and operational changes required.
7. FINANCIAL & OTHER IMPLICATIONS:
Financial implications:
7.1 There are no direct financial implications from the recommendations of this report. Once the government announce any policy and legislative changes, we will be able to understand any financial implications as well as any new burdens funding for the mandatory changes.
Finance Officer Consulted: John Lack Date: 09/06/2021
Legal implications:
7.2 There are no direct legal implications arising from the report’s recommendations.
Lawyer Consulted: Hilary Woodward Date: 09/06/2021
Equalities implications:
7.3 City Environment will continue to support those requiring assisted collections and adjust the service to collect any new materials expected through the reforms.
Sustainability implications:
7.4 There will be significant sustainability implications once the changes are embedded as the purpose is to improve recycling rates, increase the use of recyclable materials, prevent and reduce litter, and adopt a more circular economy.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Appendices:
1. Response to Environmental Principles consultation
2. Response to Extended Producer Responsibility (packaging) consultation
3. Response to Introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme consultation
4. Briefing on Extended Producer Responsibility (packaging)
5. Briefing on introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme
6. Briefing on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling
Background Documents
1. Consultation document: Environmental Principles
2. Consultation document: Extended Producer Responsibility (packaging)
3. Consultation document: Introducing a deposit return scheme
4. Consultation document: Consistency in household and business recycling