Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Adams and R Hughes.

Members are reminded that they must not participate in the discussion or voting on any matter in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and should leave the room prior to the commencement of the debate.

None were declared.

To consider the Minutes of the Environment and Services Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 July 2014. 

RESOLVED

That the Minutes of the Environment and Services Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 21 July 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any questions, statements or petitions from the public of which members of the public have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is Wednesday 3 September 2014.

No questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive any questions of which members of the Council have given notice.  Deadline for notification for this meeting is Wednesday 3 September 2014.

There were no questions from Members.

There will be an opportunity to visit the site of the Battlefield Energy Recovery Facility [ERF].  This will be followed by an update on the progress of the ERF and a question and answer session.

Two representatives from Veolia, Mr P Lucas and the site manager for the Battlefield Energy from Waste facility, Mr S Ganley, gave a detailed and informative presentation on the new facility and explained what the process involved.  Members noted that construction had commenced in October 2012 and the facility would be operational in 2015.  A copy of the presentation slides is included with the formal record of this meeting.

The following key points were made:

·         The facility would treat approximately 90,000 tonnes of waste from Shropshire every year

·         This represents approximately 45% of the municipal waste produced in the county and will produce enough power for 10,000 homes

·         The facility is not an alternative to recycling but is intended to complement recycling initiatives

·         This facility, together with the increase in recycling in the county, is expected to reduce landfill in the county from 65% of household waste in 2005/6 to 5% by 2015

·         Should Shropshire exceed its landfill limit fines will be imposed by Government and this is, ultimately, paid for by the communities of Shropshire

·         The facility will deal with municipal waste that has not been reused, recycled or composted and would end up in landfill.

The Veolia representatives outlined the main benefits of the facility including,

·         The production of more electricity for the National Grid, providing energy whilst reducing the use of fossil fuel

·         Numerous environmental benefits including – sustainable waste management, recovery of energy from waste, reduction in dependence on landfill, avoidance of methane release from landfill

·         Up to 20% of the UK’s renewable energy targets could be met by energy from waste facilities

·         Creation of jobs for local people, where possible, for the construction and then the operation of the facility

Members were provided with a very detailed explanation and description of the process i.e. how the facility would work in future to deal with the residual waste collected from black bags/bins:

•     the waste is tipped into a bunker;

•     a crane grabs the waste and places it into the feed hopper. It then drops down a feed chute onto the grate; 

•     the action of the moving grate turns the waste to allow it to burn fully

•     the burnt out ash passes through the ash discharger onto an ash handling system, which extracts metal for recycling; 

•     the remaining ash is suitable for recycling or disposal;

•     hot gases produced in the combustion process pass through a water tubed boiler where they are cooled, the exchanged heat converts the boiler water to steam;

•     a turbo-generator uses the steam to produce electricity for export to the local network and the National Grid;

•     the gases from the boiler go through an extensive flue gas cleaning process which consists of a gas scrubber and a bag filter where particulates are filtered out;

•     the resulting material known as flue gas treatment residue which can be sent beneficial use or for disposal at a licensed site; and 

•     the cleaned gases are finally released  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

An update on the SEGS project will be provided; this will include progress being made on the prototype waste collection systems.  A brief report will follow.

The Waste Contracts Manager provided an update on the alternative waste collection services being trialled for 12 weeks by 206 households in the Bayston Hil, Meole Brace and Hanwood areas.  Members noted that the trial was at the half way stage and it would be premature to come to any conclusions at this stage.

He explained the reasons for the selection of the two trial areas:

·         the streets offer a good socio-demographic mix representative of the rest of the county

·         they allow good access for the waste collection vehicles being used in the trials

·         there are good transport links

·         they are located in close proximity to Battlefield waste transfer station [where all food waste must be taken]

The Waste Contracts Manager explained that the trials had started in the week beginning 14 July 2014 and were being carried out as part of a review of the waste collection services provided by the Council and its waste contractor, Veolia.

Members noted that the aims of the review to:

·         investigate how to provide the best possible service for the residents of Shropshire

·         boost the amount of waste recycled

·         provide the best value for money for the county’s Council Tax payers

·         explore ways to reintroduce kerbside collections of cardboard for recycling, and extend collections of food waste.

Households involved in the trial received a leaflet and a visit from Shropshire Council, to explain the changes to their collection service.

The Committee noted that refuse collections and the days of collection had not changed during the trial.  The Waste Contracts Manager explained the trial detail, as follows:

Area 1: Bayston Hill

Change to existing service: Food waste will be collected separately and weekly; cardboard will be collected with paper in recycling box; plastic, glass and metal will be collected together in one, new, bin.

Area 2: Hanwood

Change to existing service: Food waste will be collected with garden waste; cardboard will be collected with paper in recycling box.

The Committee noted that, following the completion of the trial and analysis of the results, a final recommendation would be presented to Cabinet and full Council.  If approved, it was anticipated that a new service could be rolled out across the county in mid to late 2015.

The Committee is next scheduled to meet on Monday 20 October 2014 at 2.00pm.

It was noted that the next meeting of the Environment and Services Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to be held at 2.00pm on Monday 20 October 2014.