Sorting contracts secured by Grundon and Viridor

Oxfordshire-based Grundon Waste Management has been awarded a seven-year renewal of its existing materials recycling arrangements with Elmbridge and Spelthorne borough councils in Surrey that is expected to involve it sorting more than 26,000 tonnes of material a year at sites near Reading and Leatherhead.

The deal, which began at the start of this month and is worth an estimated £3.5 million over the length of the contract, represents the first major joint procurement of a waste contract in Surrey, with Elmbridge acting as lead authority.

And, Grundon said that the arrangement was expected to result in cost and administration savings to Elmbridge council of £175,000 and Spelthorne of around £100,000 over the coming year.

The company claimed that its success was based on its “detailed” understanding of the councils' needs based on already holding the deals, as well as the proximity of its materials recycling facilities (MRFs), keeping the journeys required by the councils' waste vehicles to “a minimum”.

Materials will initially be transported to the company's Colnbrook site, near Slough, in Berkshire, before being taken to either its Leatherhead or Reading MRFs for sorting.

But, Grundon said that it's bid was helped by the fact that it will be able to include additional materials for recycling when its MRF at Colnbrook reopens, which is expected to happen in autumn 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Commenting on the contract success, Grundon's managing director Richard Skehens, said the company was “delighted” to have won the deal, explaining that: “A seven year term is enormously helpful in planning our future waste infrastructure needs and justifies our decision to rebuild rather than renovate the Colnbrook MRF.

“We look forward to delivering an industry-leading service for the benefit of the residents of Elmbridge and Spelthorne boroughs,” he added.

Viridor

Meanwhile, Viridor has announced that it has secured a three-year deal worth an undisclosed sum from Lincolnshire county council to transport and sort commingled recyclables collected in the West Lindsey and City of Lincoln council areas.

The contract, which began this month and has an option for a two-year extension, involves the Taunton-based company sorting around 19,000 tonnes of material a year at its Crayford MRF in Kent.

Viridor said that, by sorting glass, plastic bottles, aluminium and steel cans, mixed paper and cardboard, it would help the councils deliver a more “cost-effective” service for their residents as well as hopefully increasing recycling levels.

June Barlow, the company's bid manager, welcomed the opportunity to work with the councils and claimed the new contract would add to their existing good recycling performance by providing them with “excellent” service and value for money.

“Through our Crayford facility Viridor recovers nearly half a million tonnes of valuable resources which can then be sent to manufacturers to produce new products, helping the UK become more resource efficient,” she added.

Ian Taylor, Lincolnshire county council's waste operations team leader, commented: “Lincolnshire residents should be justly proud of the county's leading recycling record. We don't want to rest on our laurels though and are pleased to appoint Viridor to help further boost the recycling processes for West Lindsey and the City of Lincoln.”