Kerbside works as a subcontractor to the council's refuse collection contractor, Focsa, providing a paper, glass and textiles to 20,000 households in the Halifax borough. The service began in 1997, but after expanding the service in the summer of 2003 the group has met with problems and now faces an uncertain future.
For the moment, the group will be continuing its collections, but the council has said it is “not in a position to provide additional resources to Kerbside.”
Andy Cott, operations manager at Kerbside, told letsrecycle.com: “We are still in negotiations with the council and Focsa, but it looks like at the moment we will not be able to continue.”
Neil Beecham, a spokesman for the council, explained that Focsa had agreed to recycle 14% of household waste from Calderdale as part of its contract but said there was no obligation to use the community group in the contract. It is thought that Kerbside accounts for about 10% of the recycling in the borough.
The council said: “The terms and conditions of Kerbside's contract with Focsa are a matter for the two organisations. In putting together the contract with Focsa, the council encouraged the company to work with voluntary groups, although this was not a requirement.”
Calderdale council's recycling rate in 2001-02 was 10% and its statutory target for 2005-06 of 18%.
Spanish-owned Focsa confirmed it has been working with Kerbside to find a solution to the problems. Andrew Roclawski, operations manager at Focsa, said: “Kerbside are carrying on with the collections for the foreseeable future.”
Community
The difficulties Kerbside is facing are not unique to the group. Over the past 12 months several other community sector organisations have also experienced set-backs and difficulties in their recycling activities.
The Kerbside operations manager admitted the problems facing Kerbside are now common in the sector. Mr Cott said: “I have spoken to six organisations who feel they have been hard done by. They are providing a service at a similar price to the waste company and also giving social benefit to the community. Our council has aimed to put the social benefit as a priority but in this case has failed to do so.”
Mr Cott warned that large waste companies are looking to take over kerbside collection contracts in areas where they are already established. He said: “Many organisations, such as ourselves, are being forced to go to the wall in what looks like collaboration between waste management companies and councils.”
He added: “We have done the hard work and changed people's attitudes, but now the waste management companies are coming in and taking our contracts.”
- Kerbside has now received the backing of Hebden Royd town council (23/10/03), which is insisting Calderdale metropolitan borough council ensures that the recycling group remains in operation.
Subscribe for free