Agenda and minutes

Including any notices of motion and any other items of business submitted as urgent for consideration at the meeting.

Members should declare any financial and non-financial interests they have in the items of business for consideration, identifying the relevant agenda item and the nature of their interest.

If any.

Minute of the Transport and Environment Committee of 07 March 2024 – submitted for approval as a correct record.

Transport and Environment Committee Work Programme

Transport and Environment Committee Rolling Actions Log

Transport and Environment Business Bulletin

Motion by Councillor Parker - Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging

“Committee:

1.    Notes several reforms progressing through the UK and Scottish Governments to support zero waste and the circular economy, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging which will see producers made responsible for payment for the collection of packaging in waste and recycling streams.

2.    Notes that EPR therefore has the potential to have a positive impact on Council finances, subject to the details of the scheme.

Further, Committee:

3.    Celebrates the large number of waste reduction projects which exist across the city, including SHRUB and the Remakery, and their work to reduce waste and deliver a circular economy.

4.    Notes priorities of the Council to support net zero communities across the city as set out in the 2030 Climate Strategy and believes that community-based waste reduction initiatives such as those listed in 3) have a key role to play in delivering this.

Therefore, Committee:

5.    Requests a report in 2 cycles to outline:

a.    An update on the latest information relating to EPR, including about estimates for how much funding the Council can expect through this (or information about when this will be known).

b.    Options for how EPR funds could facilitate spending to support community-based waste and/or carbon reduction projects across the city, in line with the Council’s 2030 Climate Strategy and support for net zero communities, either directly or through diversion of existing resources, realised as savings once EPR is in place.”

Motion by Councillor Bandel - Zero Waste Hierarchy

1.    “Notes that as part of its 2030 Climate Strategy, the Council seeks to "ensure citizens have opportunities to reduce, re-use and recycle to help reduce consumer waste".

2.    Notes the Zero Waste Hierarchy’s prioritisation of the reduction of waste, for example by reuse and repair, over recycling.

3.    Notes that some items collected through the Council’s uplift service or brought to Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) for recycling are in good or repairable condition.

4.    Further notes and celebrates the existence of several reuse and repair hubs, upcycling facilities, and other projects supporting zero waste in Edinburgh.

5.    Understands that officers are already working on improving signposting to reuse and repair projects and thanks them for this work.

6.    Asks officers to explore how HWRCs may promote and advance the Zero Waste Hierarchy, including but not limited to diverting reusable and/or repairable items to reuse and repair projects, and report back in the next appropriate report on Waste and Cleansing.”