7 - Water and waste
Water is often a forgotten limited resource in the UK, with easy access via our taps for a seemingly endless supply as and when we need it. However, climate change affects water management in multiple ways, including changes to seasonal and annual patterns of floods and droughts which can affect water quality and availability. This can have related impacts on our health, economic activities and on freshwater dependent ecosystems. Discarded plastic and other pollutants, along with an over-use of herbicides and pesticides, are also damaging the environment and reducing biodiversity across land and sea. The Environment Act 2021 is driving new business behaviour for waste and recycling. We will continue to work with the business community and residents to move towards a circular economy and improved resource efficiency.
Delivery update and future areas of focus
Food waste
- Home composting is promoted on our website and we have continued to promote food waste reduction using adverts on our vehicles, and through social media and other communication with residents, alongside working with the BID and the Chamber of Commerce to encourage food waste reduction in businesses. The new material sales contract donates food items to food banks in Cheltenham linked to our recycling rate and continues to promote food banks. Food waste is disposed of sustainably via the Gloucestershire County Council contract with Andigestion
- Looking ahead: We are exploring the case to roll out a communal food waste scheme to communal properties
Community reuse and sharing
- Freegle is active in the area alongside Vision 21 Reclaim and Reuse initiatives
- Looking ahead: greater promotion of reuse planned for 24/25
Enacting environment act provisions for recycling
- We have improved the range of recycling available in our offices, and food waste will be home composted by a hot bin at the Swindon Road depot for the council itself and Ubico staff by April 2024
- Looking ahead: We are exploring the potential to expand on-the-go recycling with the replacement of existing town centre litter bins
Leveraging supplementary planning documents around waste
- Both the Golden Valley SPD and the Climate SPD do cover waste. Planning proposals are assessed against these benchmarks, though they don’t provide the required level of detail
- Looking ahead: Potential for a separate Waste SPD is being explored
Ubico vehicle decarbonisation and Swindon Road infrastructure
- Alternative fuels for the heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have been put in place. As a transitional option, the majority of HGVs within Ubico have now been operating on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) for over a year with significant emission benefits. A long-term fuel solution is required, as technology develops. Our 3.5T and under fleet is gradually being replaced by electric vehicles, where possible
- Looking ahead: We need to develop a long term decarbonisation costed plan. This will support vehicle transition and essential infrastructure at the depot. A new depot, operated by Ubico, to enable this infrastructure is likely to play a key role in this transition. We are working closely with Gloucestershire County Council and Tewkesbury Borough Council to deliver this within available resources
Ongoing and completed actions
Priority in 2021-23
- Continue to work with communities and businesses to promote food waste reduction, local food sourcing, sharing of unwanted good to eat food within the community. Continue to promote home composting and sustainable food waste
- Promote community sharing and reuse to reduce waste and unnecessary consumption, including water
- Develop an incentive strategy for all staff, including our partners, to help drive down energy consumption and waste across our buildings
- Reduce the use of single-use plastic in council offices and premises and work with local businesses to help influence reduction in their plastic use and waste
Priority in 2024-26
- Encourage businesses and other organisations within the borough to seek waste and recycling solutions which send zero waste to landfill
- Following the new requirements set out within the Environment Act 2021, ensure adequate recycling and food waste facilities are provided across all Council-owned and operated buildings and community centres. Support small businesses to recycle, as well as seeking to expand the ‘on the go’ recycling bin provision across our public realm
- Reduce water consumption at CBC owned sites
- Leverage the new climate-focussed Supplementary Planning Document to encourage the provision of better waste and recycling facilities in developments. Continue to look to the future for innovative ways of dealing with our waste collections such as underground bins to maximise land use and provide more opportunities for biodiversity
Priority in 2027-28
- Adopt circular-economy waste policies in relevant plans and contracts
- Work with Gloucestershire County Council and other partners to increase the uptake of water butts and grey water recycling in new and existing homes and non-domestic properties as well as continue to promote sustainable food waste disposal across the county as part of Gloucestershire County Council’s contract arrangement for anaerobic digestion