Former NAWDO chief to head up Dorset waste body

The director position was the first to be advertised by the Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP), which is being formed in a bid to help save its constituent members millions of pounds in operational costs by combining waste collection, treatment and disposal services.

Mr Burdis was one of 31 applicants for the post, with shortlisted candidates being put through a two-day selection process for the 68,000-a-year role.

In addition to his role as head of waste management at Dorset, Mr Burdis also chairedthe organisation representing senior local authority officers,the National Association for Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO), before stepping down in June 2010 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Burdis said: Having worked with all the councils to create this partnership, I am extremely pleased to be able to take this forward as a director.

There are many challenges ahead, but working more closely together n this way will prove more efficient and, more importantly, will give a better service to the people of Dorset.

Joint

The idea of joint working was first mooted in October 2010, with the councils involved hoping to emulate the cost-saving achieved by its neighbours in Somerset under the Somerset Waste Partnership. And, it formally agreed to the proposal in December (see letsrecycle.com story).

Under the arrangement, the seven Dorset councils involved in the DWP will adopt an in-house uniform waste and recycling collection service, as well as share waste transfer stations and combine to help generate revenue from trade waste collections.

The DWP is, initially, formed of: Christchurch borough council; Dorset county council; East Dorset district council; North Dorset district council and Purbeck district council. West Dorset district council and Weymouth and Portland borough councils will transfer their services in April 2013.

Hilary Cox, chair of the DWPs joint committee, added: I am delighted that we have appointed Steve as director of the partnership. His experience and professional expertise will be invaluable as we start putting into practice what we have been planning. The DWP is a very special partnership to improve the waste services of all Dorset residents.