Believed to be the largest ever contract procured by the city council, the deal would see Accord taking recycling and refuse collection from around February.
– Frances Mangan, Gloucester CC
Accord, which specialises in public services, beat off competition from eleven other bidders including Serco and Enterprise.
Now council officers will present the recommendation before a full council meeting in November, with a view to making a final decision.
Under the contract, which will also include street cleaning and park maintenance, Accord would be required to bring Gloucester's recycling rate from 18% to at least 50% by 2009/10.
Speaking to letsreycle.com yesterday, Gloucester's Streetcare project manager Frances Mangan said: “Accord can deliver what the council wants to see. They offer joined up services, clear community engagement and a flexible response to local issues.”
She added: “We also hope to see quite an increase in recycling. By the end of 2008/9 we're looking for them to provide the highest quartile for recycling in 2005/06 or 50% recycling – whichever is the highest.”
Changes
Under the new arrangement, refuse and recycling crews presently employed by Gloucester council would also work under Accord, operating from the city's existing depot at Eastern Avenue.
| Related links: |
At present, Gloucester council provides weekly refuse collection alongside a weekly green box service for recycling –taking newspapers, magazines, glass, cans, plastic bottles, textiles and shoes.
Ms Mangan revealed that the contract could see some changes in the service. She said: “The local authority has said it is open to changes to the existing recycling system.”
Register for free to comment