Agenda and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be located at the following link:

http://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=439&MId=3808&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

Apologies were received from Councillors Corall and Jackie Dunbar.

The Sub Committee had before it the minute of the previous meeting of 1 December 2015.

The Sub Committee resolved:

to approve the minute as a correct record.

The Sub Committee had before it a report by the Director of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure which provided an update on the progress of the Zero Waste Project.

The report recommended:

that the Sub Committee note the content of the report.

The Sub Committee heard from Pete Lawrence, Waste and Recycling Manager, who provided an update in regards to the Altens East Recycling facility and also the Energy from Waste facility.

Communal Mixed Recycling

Mr Lawrence advised that the relocation from Berryden to the Altens East site was on schedule for completion in the early part of 2017 and would then be subject to the commissioning phase for refuse sorting methods.

The change over to mixed kerbside recycling was also on schedule and the first stage would involve communal mixed recycling.  Mr Lawrence outlined the proposed roll out and provided information on the replacement of bins with details of types, sizes and locations within communal residential areas.  He confirmed that communication with residents was being undertaken to ensure a smooth changeover and that there was provision for additional bin capacity for households with particularly high waste levels.  Food waste recycling was being rolled out further with communal developments being phased in with the cooperation of factors and developers.

In response to a question from Councillor Nicoll, Mr Lawrence advised that existing bins would be re-configured to create ‘clusters’ of 3 bins – a mixed recycling bin, non recyclable refuse bin and food waste bin to ensure residents weren’t inconvenienced by having to walk further than usual.  Mapping of demand would be used to adjust collection periods on an ongoing basis with the aim being to reduce ‘side waste’ due to overflowing bins.  It was hoped that the sporadic paper recycling should improve and overall the reconfiguration of bin provision should lead to a significant improvement in uptake by residents and service provided.

Councillor Finlayson advised that it was positive to see the coast road expansion and asked whether the Nigg area could be added to the project delivery.  Mr Lawrence explained that if there was any demand for communal recycling in Nigg then it would be included in the Cove phase of rollout.

Mr Lawrence advised that mixed recycling is currently transported to Northumberland or Birmingham to reduce landfill use and that once the mixed recycling separation plant was in full operation it would offer a significant cost saving.

Councillor Finlayson explained that schools had recently participated in the production of a video to encourage recycling and enquired whether this concept could be used again to emphasise the new change in recycling bins.  Mr Lawrence advised that he would discuss this with his team.

Joint Working on Energy from Waste

Mr Lawrence advised that the Inter Authority Agreement between Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray Councils had now been signed and a governance structure had been established which would include 1 Director from each of the three local authorities on the Project Board and an elected member steering group had also been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

The Waste and Recycling Manager advised that interviews for the appointment of a Project Director for the Energy from Waste project would be held on 22 March and the interview panel would consist of 1 Councillor from each Local Authority involved in the project.

The Sub Committee resolved:

to request that the Convener attend the interviews as Aberdeen City Council’s representative.

2.00pm, 12 May 2016.

The Sub Committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled for 2.00pm, 12 May 2016.

- Councillor Jean Morrison, Convener