Report of Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement

This report provides an update on work undertaken across the Council on its commitment on Single Use Plastics (SUPs), which is part of action within the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2020-25.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement that provided an update on the work undertaken across the Council on its commitment on Single Use Plastics (SUPs), which was part of an action within the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan 2020-25.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·       Providing an introduction and background;

·       Information relating to national legislation and policy;

·       Progress update across a range of activities, noting that the development and approval of a SUPs policy and action plan, outlining twenty objectives for the reduction of SUPs across the council had been approved by the Council’s Executive in December 2023; and

·       Discussion of challenges and next steps.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·       Welcoming the significant progress reported and expressing their appreciation to all staff involved in this important work;

·       What could be done to encourage community groups who accessed Neighbourhood Investment Funding (NIF) not to use SUPs when delivering local events;

·       Welcoming the work undertaken with schools, however noting that many secondary schools experienced plastic bottle littering around entrances;

·       What other considerations had been given to increase the installation at different locations of water refill points;

·       Providing positive personal testimonies to the work, particularly in leisure centres;

·       Had any analysis been undertaken with Biffa and waste and recycling centres to quantify and demonstrate any reduction in SUPs; and

·       SUPs and Takeaways.

The Zero Carbon Manager said that the Climate Change Officers working alongside Neighbourhood Officers did work closely with local voluntary and community groups when applying for NIF funding and good practice was shared in regard to SUPs. She said that consideration was being given to the written guidance in relation to SUPs that would be provided in the next round of NIF funding to strengthen this message. She further commented that conversations were ongoing with local businesses to explore opportunities to deliver more water refill stations, adding that delivery and support for this could also form part of their social value obligations. The Head of Integrated Commissioning and Procurement commented that the Social Value Governance Board were giving consideration to including this opportunity in their written guidance to strengthen this argument. 

The Zero Carbon Manager said that a lot of positive work had been achieved with schools on the issue of SUPs. She said this had been delivered by the sharing of good practice, briefing sessions and webinars. In relation to the issue of plastic bottles discarded around the entrance area of secondary schools the Chair commented that each school should address this through their own climate change action plans.

With regard to SUPs and Takeaways, the Zero Carbon Manager said the Council led by example on this issue and this was now embedded across the organisation. She said that the Licensing and Enforcement Teams had adopted an approach of engagement and education with takeaway businesses in regard to their legal requirement, noting that from 1st October businesses including restaurants, cafés and takeaways would no longer be able to provide bowls, plates or cutlery made from single-use plastic, including polystyrene. She said that the GM SUP Working Group were lobbying for a national campaign on this issue. The Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport stated that she would support this call.

The Deputy Chief Executive stated that the next MCC Climate Change Action Plan would seek to build and maintain the momentum that had been established on the issue of SUPs.

The Executive Member for Clean Air, Environment and Transport said that she welcomed the continued challenge and feedback that had been provided by the Committee on the issue of SUPs over the years. She said the report described significant progress on this issue and this was now embedded across the organisation and she further paid tribute to all the staff involved. The Chair reiterated this statement and recognised the important work delivered.

Decision

To note the report.