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Decision details

Waste and Environment - Service Design Options

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved (subject to call-in)

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Review and rationalisation of the bring site service, planning for the collection of plastic bags and wrapping from residents, and optimisation of the collection services through the collection of mixed (rather than separate) paper and card.

Decision:

The purpose of the item was to set out a package of waste and recycling service design options to support a cohesive, compliant, and efficient approach to service delivery.  The report had been produced to enable Cabinet to consider the removal of some services alongside the introduction and simplification of others, recognising that reductions in recycling income can be mitigated by reduced operating costs and operational efficiencies.

 

Councillor Andrea Pellegram, Cabinet Member for Environment and Regulatory Services, introduced the report and explained that the proposed changes were required to inform the specification of the Council's new waste collection vehicles and to align future service provision with legislative changes, including the introduction of Simpler Recycling requirements from 1 April 2027.

 

Cabinet was advised that the recommendations would remove the remaining Bring Bank sites across the district, as the materials collected at those sites were now largely collected through the kerbside recycling service. The changes would reduce operational costs, address issues associated with fly-tipping and misuse of facilities, and were not expected to adversely affect residents' ability to recycle.

 

The Cabinet Member further explained that the Council proposed to introduce a collection service for plastic bags and wrapping from April 2027 without issuing additional containers initially, as modelling indicated that uptake would be limited in the early stages. The arrangements would be monitored and reviewed alongside approaches adopted by other Gloucestershire authorities.

 

Cabinet was also advised that paper and card collections would be combined into a single recycling stream to simplify the service for residents and reflect changes in the composition of recyclable materials.

In addition, it was proposed that the standard residual waste bin size for new properties and replacement bins would be reduced from 180 litres to 140 litres, reflecting the district's strong recycling performance. Existing bins would not be replaced as part of this change.

Reference was made to comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which had emphasised the importance of a comprehensive communications plan to support residents through the changes and to minimise any unintended consequences, particularly following the removal of Bring Bank facilities.

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Andrea Pellegram and seconded by Councillor Juliet Layton.

 

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1.    Agree to the withdrawal of the Bring Bank service.

2.    Agree to the proposed approach for how residents would present the new recyclable plastics at the kerbside (i.e. in a tied, self-supplied, single-use sack).

3.    Agree to a reduction in the size of the standard issue refuse bin (from 180 litre to 140 litre) on a replacement/ phased basis.

4.    Agree to the new arrangement for the combined collection of paper and card.

5.    Note the financial implications.

6.    Grant delegated authority to the Director of Communities and Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment & Regulatory Services to take the required steps to implement the recommendations above.

 

Voting record:

7 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions.

Councillor Dale, attending virtually, was not eligible to vote.

Report author: Peta Johnson

Publication date: 05/06/2026

Date of decision: 04/06/2026

Decided at meeting: 04/06/2026 - Cabinet

Date comes into force if not called in: 13/06/2026

Call-in deadline date: 12/06/2026

Accompanying Documents:

 

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