Waste Strategy proposed key priorities

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In order to maximise opportunities and address the significant challenges faced we propose the following three key priorities for our Waste Strategy:

  • Reduce overall waste.
  • Maximise recycling.
  • Deliver an efficient and cost-effective waste collection, recycling and processing service.

Underpinning all of these priorities is the need to tackle our climate emergency and protect our environment.

The following actions are suggested to deliver our priorities

1. Reduce Overall Waste
We want to work with residents to understand how we can all reduce the amount of waste that is generated in Cheshire West and Chester:

  • Using a new Communication and Engagement Plan we will continue to promote waste prevention, reuse and recycling to residents
  • We will continue to work towards eliminating avoidable waste, including our pledge around becoming a single-use plastic free borough.

2. Maximise Recycling

  • We will continue to promote and raise awareness of the importance of recycling, including awareness of what can be recycled, and what happens to non-recycled waste, impacts of this on the environment and the cost
  • We will explore 'on the go' recycling - allowing opportunities to recycle when away from home.
  • In order to meet our priorities, we have explored possible changes to the kerbside collection service to make recycling as easy and convenient as possible for residents. Two options are being considered for this.


3. Deliver an efficient and cost-effective waste collection, recycling and processing service

  • We will work to maximise financial value from the recyclable waste collected to reinvest into the overall waste service - providing the best value for the Council taxpayer
  • We will ensure that any changes to the kerbside waste collection service will include "route optimisation" - this ensures efficiency through best use of vehicles, staff resources and fuel consumption
  • We will review our container management policy - this will support residents with broken or missing bins while minimising costs and environmental impacts related to replacement
  • We will continue to minimise waste sent to landfill through 'energy from waste'
  • We will continue to use anaerobic digestion* for food waste
  • We will explore expanded use of compactor bins in rural areas to reduce frequency of emptying
  • We will explore charging for some types of waste (such as soil, rubble and hardcore from building work) at recycling centres to cover the increasing costs of disposal / processing
  • We will explore charging for our garden waste collection service to help address our significant budget challenge, encourage home composting and reduce carbon emissions
  • We will review our recycling centre arrangements ahead of the end of our contract in 2023
  • We will review our trade waste site to ensure that this is fit for purpose and cost effective.

*Your food waste is taken to a special processing plant where it is transformed into fertiliser and electricity – this process is called Anaerobic Digestion.

In order to maximise opportunities and address the significant challenges faced we propose the following three key priorities for our Waste Strategy:

  • Reduce overall waste.
  • Maximise recycling.
  • Deliver an efficient and cost-effective waste collection, recycling and processing service.

Underpinning all of these priorities is the need to tackle our climate emergency and protect our environment.

The following actions are suggested to deliver our priorities

1. Reduce Overall Waste
We want to work with residents to understand how we can all reduce the amount of waste that is generated in Cheshire West and Chester:

  • Using a new Communication and Engagement Plan we will continue to promote waste prevention, reuse and recycling to residents
  • We will continue to work towards eliminating avoidable waste, including our pledge around becoming a single-use plastic free borough.

2. Maximise Recycling

  • We will continue to promote and raise awareness of the importance of recycling, including awareness of what can be recycled, and what happens to non-recycled waste, impacts of this on the environment and the cost
  • We will explore 'on the go' recycling - allowing opportunities to recycle when away from home.
  • In order to meet our priorities, we have explored possible changes to the kerbside collection service to make recycling as easy and convenient as possible for residents. Two options are being considered for this.


3. Deliver an efficient and cost-effective waste collection, recycling and processing service

  • We will work to maximise financial value from the recyclable waste collected to reinvest into the overall waste service - providing the best value for the Council taxpayer
  • We will ensure that any changes to the kerbside waste collection service will include "route optimisation" - this ensures efficiency through best use of vehicles, staff resources and fuel consumption
  • We will review our container management policy - this will support residents with broken or missing bins while minimising costs and environmental impacts related to replacement
  • We will continue to minimise waste sent to landfill through 'energy from waste'
  • We will continue to use anaerobic digestion* for food waste
  • We will explore expanded use of compactor bins in rural areas to reduce frequency of emptying
  • We will explore charging for some types of waste (such as soil, rubble and hardcore from building work) at recycling centres to cover the increasing costs of disposal / processing
  • We will explore charging for our garden waste collection service to help address our significant budget challenge, encourage home composting and reduce carbon emissions
  • We will review our recycling centre arrangements ahead of the end of our contract in 2023
  • We will review our trade waste site to ensure that this is fit for purpose and cost effective.

*Your food waste is taken to a special processing plant where it is transformed into fertiliser and electricity – this process is called Anaerobic Digestion.