Oxfordshire County Council logo

Agenda item

Motion from Councillor Suzanne Bartington

“Recycling delivers multiple environmental and health benefits, including conservation of natural capital, reduction in energy consumption and mitigation of pollutant emissions. The critical role of recycling for sustainable development, is reflected in ambitious targets within the Government 25-Year Environment Plan and Resources and Waste Strategy (Defra, 2018).

 

In 2017/18, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) was named the best performing county council disposal authority in England for household waste recycling, with an overall rate of over 57%.  This success reflects OCC's commitment to partnership working with the City and District Councils to continuously improve waste services and protect our natural environment.

 

However, performance could be further improved, through coordinated action to identify areas for improvement, disseminate best practice and strive for optimal performance. These efforts would aim to improve overall rates and reduce geographical variation across Oxfordshire: 

 

·                SODC 63%

·                Vale of White Horse 60.4%

·                WODC 59.6%

·                Cherwell 55.6%

·                Oxford City 50.8%

 

This Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Environment to instigate a programme to achieve this goal through four key objectives:

 

(a)          Implement closer partnership working between constituent authorities, sharing best practice and working collaboratively to identify barriers and facilitators for improvement.

(b)          Consider the benefits and any disadvantages of standardisation of collection, waste containers, and quality monitoring.

(c)          Explore measures to minimise the environmental impacts of domestic waste. 

(d)          Encourage public engagement initiatives such as clearer labelling to raise awareness and promote behavioural change among residents.”

 

Minutes:

Councillor Suzanne Bartington Moved and Councillor Nicolas Field-Johnson seconded the following motion:

 

“Recycling delivers multiple environmental and health benefits, including conservation of natural capital, reduction in energy consumption and mitigation of pollutant emissions. The critical role of recycling for sustainable development, is reflected in ambitious targets within the Government 25-Year Environment Plan and Resources and Waste Strategy (Defra, 2018).

 

In 2017/18, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) was named the best performing county council disposal authority in England for household waste recycling, with an overall rate of over 57%.  This success reflects OCC's commitment to partnership working with the City and District Councils to continuously improve waste services and protect our natural environment.

 

However, performance could be further improved, through coordinated action to identify areas for improvement, disseminate best practice and strive for optimal performance. These efforts would aim to improve overall rates and reduce geographical variation across Oxfordshire: 

 

·                SODC 63%

·                Vale of White Horse 60.4%

·                WODC 59.6%

·                Cherwell 55.6%

·                Oxford City 50.8%

 

This Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Environment to instigate a programme to achieve this goal through four key objectives:

 

(a)          Implement closer partnership working between constituent authorities, sharing best practice and working collaboratively to identify barriers and facilitators for improvement.

(b)     Consider the benefits and any disadvantages of standardisation of collection, waste containers, and quality monitoring.

(c)          Explore measures to minimise the environmental impacts of domestic waste. 

(d)          Encourage public engagement initiatives such as clearer labelling to raise awareness and promote behavioural change among residents.”

 

Councillor Paul Buckley moved and Councillor Roz Smith seconded the following amendment shown in bold italics and strikethrough:

 

“Recycling delivers multiple environmental and health benefits, including conservation of natural capital, reduction in energy consumption and mitigation of pollutant emissions. The critical role of recycling for sustainable development, is reflected in ambitious targets within the Government 25-Year Environment Plan and Resources and Waste Strategy (Defra, 2018).

 

In 2017/18, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) was named the best performing county council disposal authority in England for household waste recycling, with an overall rate of over 57%.  This success reflects OCC's commitment to partnership working with the City and District Councils to continuously improve waste services and protect our natural environment.

 

However, performance could be further improved, through coordinated action to identify areas for improvement, disseminate best practice and strive for optimal performance. These efforts would aim to improve overall recycling rates especially in the less well performing districts. and reduce geographical variation across Oxfordshire: 

 

·                SODC 63%

·                Vale of White Horse 60.4%

·                WODC 59.6%

·                Cherwell 55.6%

·                Oxford City 50.8%

 

This Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Environment to instigate a programme to achieve this goal through four six key objectives:

 

(a)              Implement closer partnership working between constituent authorities, sharing best practice and working collaboratively to identify barriers and facilitators for improvement.

(b)               Consider the benefits and any disadvantages of standardisation of collection, waste containers, and quality monitoring.

(c)               Explore measures to minimise the environmental impacts of domestic waste. 

 

Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was lost by 45 votes to 13.

 

The substantive motion was then put to the vote and was agreed unanimously by 59 votes to 0.

 

RESOLVED: (by 59 votes 0)

 

Recycling delivers multiple environmental and health benefits, including conservation of natural capital, reduction in energy consumption and mitigation of pollutant emissions. The critical role of recycling for sustainable development, is reflected in ambitious targets within the Government 25-Year Environment Plan and Resources and Waste Strategy (Defra, 2018).

 

In 2017/18, Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) was named the best performing county council disposal authority in England for household waste recycling, with an overall rate of over 57%.  This success reflects OCC's commitment to partnership working with the City and District Councils to continuously improve waste services and protect our natural environment.

 

However, performance could be further improved, through coordinated action to identify areas for improvement, disseminate best practice and strive for optimal performance. These efforts would aim to improve overall rates and reduce geographical variation across Oxfordshire: 

 

·                SODC 63%

·                Vale of White Horse 60.4%

·                WODC 59.6%

·                Cherwell 55.6%

·                Oxford City 50.8%

 

This Council calls on the Cabinet Member for Environment to instigate a programme to achieve this goal through four key objectives:

 

(a)          Implement closer partnership working between constituent authorities, sharing best practice and working collaboratively to identify barriers and facilitators for improvement.

(b)     Consider the benefits and any disadvantages of standardisation of collection, waste containers, and quality monitoring.

(c)          Explore measures to minimise the environmental impacts of domestic waste. 

(d)          Encourage public engagement initiatives such as clearer labelling to raise awareness and promote behavioural change among residents.