Issue - meetings

Provision of Kitchen Caddy Liners to Support Food Waste Service Rollout

 

 

Meeting: 08/09/2025 - Cabinet (Item 44)

44 Provision of Kitchen Caddy Liners to Support Food Waste Service Rollout pdf icon PDF 214 KB

Executive Summary

The Council must introduce a separate weekly food waste collection service for all households by 31 March 2026 in line with the Government’s Simpler Recycling agenda. North Norfolk has secured DEFRA funding to procure the required containers and vehicles and is progressing service implementation.

 

A key policy question remains whether the launch of the new service should be supported by the provision of kitchen caddy liners to residents. This report sets the background, outlines options, and seeks Cabinet’s guidance.

 

 

Options considered

 

Option 1: Provide a single roll of 26 bags per household as a starter kit only. This option will be a one-off distribution at service launch and will support households in adapting to the new service.

There will be limited cost exposure to the council with no ongoing commitment.

 

Option 2: Provide ongoing provision of caddy liners to households. This option provides a regular supply to householders, with programmed top up deliveries to depot every 3 months. Higher reoccurring cost to the council, likely benefits for participation and an element of contamination control.

 

Option 3: No provision of caddy liners to householders. Householders are advised on liners they can use, and they supply their own liners, in line with the specification advised to the council by the food waste end processor.

There will be no direct cost to the council, there may be a potential risk to participation.

 

Consultation(s)

Internal consultation: Environmental Services, Contractor, Portfolio Holder, Finance and Communications

 

External has not yet been undertaken; this can be integrated into service launch engagement

Recommendations

 
  1. The Cabinet notes the contents of the report.
  2. Cabinet provides direction on whether the Council will:

- Provide a starter roll of 26 bags per household (Option 1);

- Provide ongoing liner supplies (Option 2); or,

- Provide no liners (Option 3).

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

Providing a clear direction will allow for the future planning of the service and the procurement of services.

Background papers

 

Corporate Plan 2023–27: Our Greener Future.

Annual Action Plans 2024–25 and 2025–26.

DEFRA funding allocations (2024/25).

Cabinet decision authorising procurement (May 2025).

 

 

 

Wards affected

All wards within North Norfolk

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Callum Ringer

Contact Officer

Jemma Alston, Contracts and Waste Services Manager

Jemma.alston@north-norfolk.gov.uk

01263 516341

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

To agree to support:

 

Option 1: Provide a single roll of 26 bags per household as a starter kit only. This option will be a one-off distribution at service launch and will support households in adapting to the new service. There will be limited cost exposure to the council with no ongoing commitment.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

To provide clear direction which will allow for the future planning of the service and the procurement of services.

 

Minutes:

The Chair introduced this item in the absence of Cllr Ringer, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services & Waste. He read out a statement from Cllr Ringer which explained that he supported Option 1 – the provision of a single roll of 26 bags per household as a starter kit only. This option would be a one-off distribution at service launch and would support households in adapting to the new service. He went onto say that usage of the service should be reviewed so that the Council could consider the provision of further liners in the future if this encouraged further take up and reduced contamination. Local retailers would be informed in advance of the coming changes so that replacement liners could be adequately stocked.

 

Cllr W Fredericks commented that she felt it was a combination of option 1 and option 3. The Chair replied that it could be a mix of all options depending how it played out. It was a new process for residents and option 1 would assist with engagement and compliance. Over time, if contamination and drop-off rates increased then consideration may have to be given as to the provision of additional liners.

 

Cllr L Withington said that this would be a good opportunity to educate people. It was important to get the message out to encourage residents to put plastics into the recycling system, so it could be used again. The Chair said that there would be a communications plan alongside this project.

 

It was proposed by Cllr T Adams, seconded by Cllr L Withington and

 

RESOLVED

 

To agree to support:

 

Option 1: Provide a single roll of 26 bags per household as a starter kit only. This option will be a one-off distribution at service launch and will support households in adapting to the new service. There will be limited cost exposure to the council with no ongoing commitment.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

To provide clear direction which will allow for the future planning of the service and the procurement of services.