Consultation:
Community Compost
Change to Community Composting Credit rate
Discretionary recycling credits are paid to 25 Community Composting groups across the county in line with guidance drawn up by the County Council. A recycling credit represents the cost that would have been incurred by the local authorities had they dealt with the waste i.e. traditionally the avoided cost of landfill. The activity avoids the waste being dealt with by district and county councils and provides a useful material which is used as a soil conditioner. The credit rate is currently set at the same level as the statutory recycling credit which is currently £58.36 per tonne for up to 120 tonnes. For 120-500 tonnes the garden waste credit rate of £49.46 per tonne is applied.
This rate approximates to the current contract rate for dealing with garden waste. From April 2017 a new contract will be in place with a much lower rate in the region of the national average rate of £25 per tonne. Whilst the County Council fully supports the community groups, it is hard to justify continuing to pay a higher discretionary rate to community groups when the Council could manage this waste cheaper through its new contract. It is proposed, therefore, that the credit rate paid to Community Composting Groups will be reduced to a flat rate of £25 per tonne from 1st April 2017.
We would be pleased to hear your views on the proposal to reduce the credit rate for community composting.
A report will be taken to Cabinet with a recommendation on 8th March 2017.