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The Communities Committee of Dumfries and Galloway Council will convene on Tuesday 10 March and receive a comprehensive report on the progress being made in relation to the Council’s Waste Strategy.
Councillors will be asked to agree the continued development of the Dumfries Zero Waste Park as part of the paper. There are three main elements that require to be developed on the park;
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A building to receive the dry recyclable products
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A modern, safe and efficient household waste recycling centre to replace the existing site at Lochar Moss
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A refuse collection facility to fuel, wash and maintain vehicles
The report details that the design of the Zero Waste site is well underway, with the tender due to be awarded before the end of this year. The build will be done in three phases, from January 2021 to December 2021.
As well as the bricks and mortar, Members will also hear about the Waste Strategy development at the meeting. Consultation in the form of Community conversations were held in late 2019, with 800 people attending. The conversations raised a lot of valid and important issues and officers were particularly pleased with the number of people who turned up at the fifteen events held over the region.
Councillor Andy Ferguson, who chairs the Communities Committee said ahead of the meeting;
“This is a detailed report that gives an update on how we as a Council will be collecting, handling and recycling our residents’ rubbish. We are honest enough to hold our hands up and say we’ve not got everything spot on with regards to waste in the past, but as a local authority I have absolute confidence in the strategy and the plans for the Zero Waste Park. I look forward to the project continuing and a further report coming before Committee detailing progress.”
The opening hours of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC’s) is also up for discussion at committee. The report details that a saving of more than £50,000 can be made by standardising opening hours across facilities. The opening hours have undergone intense public consultation, with a survey of the public receiving 2,184 responses. The next stage of this process is to undertake staff engagement, with the Waste Sub Committee receiving a report to approve in the coming months on the opening hours.
Councillor John Martin, who is vice chair of the Communities Committee said;
“It is important to remember that despite the welcome investment in the Waste Strategy, we as a Council need to be as effective and efficient as we can. The move to standardise opening hours in the HWRC facilities is a positive one, and is being progressed with the public’s support, shown via the fantastic response to the consultation. I would like to thank everyone who took part for their ideas and opinions.”
Papers for the meeting on Tuesday 10 March will be available at https://dumfriesgalloway.moderngov.co.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1
