The Joint Waste Core Strategy is a partnership agreement between Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Staffordshire County Council, designed to provide a more co-ordinated approach to the disposal of waste in the two local authority areas. If approved by the cabinet, a six week consultation will take place with residents before being put to the Planning Inspectorate.
The strategy aims to divert 95% of recyclable waste away from landfill by 2015/16, and 100% by 2020/21. That would take into account an expansion of private sector recycling facilities dealing with around 55,000 tonnes of waste per year. The two local authorities have already approved facilities capable of dealing with that total capacity in each of the last eight years.
Councillor Ruth Rosenau, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and transportation, said: “How we and the county council dispose of our waste needs to be part of a co-ordinated effort. We realise that the issues that both of our authorities face don’t always fit our geographical boundaries, so it makes sense for us to work together.
“We’re hopefully going to be able to come up with a cost effective and more efficient way of working so we can hit the targets we are setting for ourselves in the future.”
Councillor Andy Platt, cabinet member for green enterprises and clean city, said: “The ambition behind this project is to greatly decrease the amount of waste we’re sending to landfill. Both our councils will still have to deal with hazardous, non-recyclable and non-recoverable materials – but we can make a significant impact on the amount of recycling we do.
“It’s also important to say that this won’t affect waste collections, it gives us a planning framework for new recycling facilities and guidelines on how they will operate in future years.”
Staffordshire County Councillor, Mark Winnington, Cabinet Member for the Environment and Assets, said: “The adoption of the Waste Local Plan (previously waste core strategy) is an exciting initiative which means our planning policies will match our aspirations to send zero waste to landfill and maximise recycling and reuse in the county. At the same time this will help us to ensure sustainable development and maximise the prosperity generated from the resource recovery industry.”
The proposals are due to be discussed by the city council’s cabinet at their meeting on Thursday evening.
-Ends-
For all media enquiries contact Phil Bowers in the Communications Department at Stoke-on-Trent City Council on 01782 232017.