Three vie for Camden collections contract

Amey, Serco and Veolia – the incumbent contractor – are all understood to have submitted their interest in the procurement exercise – which will see a successful bidder provide collections in the London borough for up to 16 years if renewed in 2025.

The Environmental Services Contract covers collections of household recycling, food waste, garden waste and residual waste, as well as commercial waste, street cleansing and gritting.

In December 2014, the council agreed a £73 million savings programme – which requires £3 million per year to be saved within its collections and street cleaning contract.

The borough’s current arrangement with Veolia, which began in 2003 and is due to expire next year, is valued at £23 million per year. In 2010, the contract was renewed on condition the company introduced new measures to boost recycling – which saw it roll out separate collections for paper and card and introduce mixed plastics to the kerbside (see letsrecycle.com story).

In order to find the £3 million, as well as investigate an additional £2 million in savings per year, Camden council is to “change the way the contract works”, taking advantage of “new technology, and working hard with residents and businesses to reduce littering and increase recycling”.

Options

In June 2015, the cabinet approved a number of policy options to help bidders meet the council’s desired outcomes.

These include the provision of wheeled bins for residual waste and banning of side waste, weekly dry recycling and food waste collections, fortnightly residual waste collections introduction of as charged-for, seasonal garden waste service, and incentive schemes.

The policy options also includes reduction of collections from estate-based properties, where possible, with more frequent collections to be carried out at a cost to the Housing Revenue Account.

Explaining its position in an online FAQ report to residents, the council states: A study of Camden’s ‘Waste in 2014’ found that at least 70% of the contents of an average Camden rubbish bin are recyclable. This includes a high proportion of organic (food) waste that is collected weekly from households across the borough.

“Non-recyclable material makes up the minority of an average Camden bin so could require less frequent collections if residents make full use of weekly dry recycling and food waste collections.”

Recycling

According to Veolia’s website, the company recycles 33% of Camden’s waste each year – however official statistics released by Defra for 2014/15 actually put the borough’s recycling rate at 26.3%.

The council is already looking to roll out recycling initiatives to 46,000 council-managed estate properties after receiving £435,968 in grant funding from DCLG (see letsrecycle.com story).

The procurement exercise is expected to end in the coming weeks, with a contract award decision made in summer 2016. Camden’s new Environmental Services contract will commence from 1 April 2017.

Veolia also operates collections in the North London boroughs of Brent and Haringey. When contacted by letsrecycle.com, the company declined to comment on the Camden contract.