Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene introduced the Waste Strategy 2016 - 2020 which set out the Council’s plans to reduce waste and increase the reuse and recycling of materials over the next five years.

It was noted that Barking and Dagenham households threw away approximately one tonne of rubbish each year, the highest level of waste production per household in London.  Furthermore, the borough recycling rate had reduced from a peak of over 30% in 2011/12 to approximately 24% in 2014/15 and an estimated 19.2% in 2015/16.  The Cabinet Member explained that a number of service improvements and a public awareness campaign had seen the 2016/17 recycling rate increase to around 28.6% by the end of July.  The new Strategy would build on that improvement via a wide range of measures aimed at changing the behaviour of the local community and through the delivery of cost-effective services.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the Waste Strategy 2016 - 2020: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle at Appendix 1 to the report; and

(ii)  Authorise the Strategic Director of Customer, Commercial and Service Delivery, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene, to agree minor amendments to the Strategy prior to its publication.