Agenda item - Pots, Tubs & Trays Recycling

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)             That Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee authorises for a feasibility study to be completed on the costs to retrofit the MRF to introduce PTT recycling, including the carbon impact of the construction works, processing of the material at the MRF rather than the Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) and the additional transport of this material.

82.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that provided information on the introduction of Pots, Tubs & Trays (PTT) into the recycling stream across Brighton & Hove and requested approval for a feasibility study to be undertaken.

82.2      In response to a question from Councillor Fowler, the Head of Business Support & Projects stated that the feasibility study would look at methods to minimise the risk of the contamination of unrecyclable plastic in a recycling scheme.

82.3      Committee members endorsed the report noting that unrecyclable plastic was a matter of concern for local residents and proposed lobbying government to enforce changes and encouraging local businesses to use recyclable items in its saleable and packaging items.

82.4      The Assistant Director, City Environment noted that several schemes were currently being reviewed including an accreditation scheme encouraging the reduction or eradication of plastic and a bottle deposit return scheme for businesses on the seafront.

82.5      RESOLVED- That Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee authorises for a feasibility study to be completed on the costs to retrofit the MRF to introduce PTT recycling, including the carbon impact of the construction works, processing of the material at the MRF rather than the Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) and the additional transport of this material.