Hertfordshire council has chosen AmeyCespa as the preferred bidder for an eight-year contract to manage and operate the countys household waste and recycling centres (HWRCs).
The contract, which commences on October 6 2014 and has the option of a seven year extension, also includes the associated transport and management of recyclables and other materials from the HWRCs.
According to the council, as part of the procurement process, AmeyCespa developed a number of suggested changes to the service which would achieve savings of at least 6m over the eight year contract period.
Hertfordshire councillor Terry Douris, cabinet member for highways and waste management, said: AmeyCespa has strong experience and an excellent reputation at managing centres elsewhere in the country. They will be making improvements to the current levels of customer service, increasing the levels of recycling as well as expanding re-use on sites and helping small businesses deal with waste by piloting a trade waste service for small businesses at one of our sites.
Hertfordshires HWRCs are currently managed under three separate contracts with FCC Environment, Fourways Waste and Domestic Waste Services all of which expire in the next year.
Consultation
There are currently 17 HWRCs in Hertfordshire, but with the council needing to make savings it is suggesting changes to opening hours and the possible closure of sites as options for public consultation this month.
‘They [AmeyCespa] will be making improvements to the current levels of customer service, increasing the levels of recycling as well as expanding re-use on sites and helping small businesses deal with waste by piloting a trade waste service for small businesses at one of our sites.’
Councillor Terry Douris, Hertfordshire county council
Options being considered for consultation include the closure of the Elstree and Hoddesdon HWRCs, reductions to opening hours and the introduction of midweek closures at all sites.
The exact number of HWRCs AmeyCespa will manage under the contract and exactly how much the deal is worth will not be finalised until after the results of the consultation, which will be presented to the councils highways and waste management panel later this year.
The councils cabinet will then decide whether to approve the service changes, which are scheduled to be implemented in early 2015.
Councillor Douris added: Over the last four years, the county council has delivered savings amounting to 149m a year while protecting essential front line services. However, similar savings are required over the next four years which means difficult decisions will need to be taken.
We recognise that any service changes have an impact on our residents and therefore, from later next month, we will be consulting on the potential service changes.
AmeyCespa
Paul Greenwell, Managing Director of AmeyCespa, said: We are delighted to have been announced as the preferred bidder for this contract with Hertfordshire County Council. Using our experience of managing Household Waste Recycling Centres elsewhere in the country, this is a great opportunity for us to work in partnership with the council to provide a more efficient and effective service for the local community.
Hertfordshire council is still awaiting a planning decision from communities secretary Eric Pickles with regards to Veolia Environmental Services proposed energy-from-waste facility near Hatfield (see letsrecycle.com story).
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