In the latest round of data released by Defra this week, four of the top ten local authorities for recycling in England were contracted to Biffa.
It comes in the midst of a growing debate between local authorities over whether waste services are best delivered in-house or outsourced to private contractors in the wake of budget pressure.
Biffa-run South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse achieved first and second place among collection authorities, with Surrey Heath and Stratford-on-Avon also making the top ten (see letsrecycle.com story).
Other highlights for the contractor include South Bucks district council, which became the most improved authority after lifting its recycling, reuse and composting rate from 33.4% to 50.7%.
And, Ashford borough council, once dubbed ‘England’s worst recycler’ – also gave a noteworthy performance – boosting its rate from 41.9% to 55.3%.
Private
Biffa Municipal managing director Roger Edward highlighted that the ‘vast majority’ of the top ten councils were serviced by private sector contractors.
Mr Edwards previously waded into the outsourcing debate last month when he branded Liverpool councillor Steve Munby’s accusation that bin collections in England are a monopoly run by cartels as “utter nonsense” (see letsrecycle.com story).
Commenting on the results this week, he said: “The results show just what the private sector can deliver in terms of efficient and cost-effective services that are valued by councils and residents alike.
“But we are never complacent, which is why Biffa is developing a best practice toolkit to help councils and contractors deal with aggravating and usually unnecessary contamination of recyclables at the point of collection.”
Mr Edwards conceded that England “still has a mountain to climb” if it is to meet its 50% recycling target by 2020.
He added: “While we are very proud that Biffa has helped some authorities to achieve league-leading recycling rates of close to 70%, the bitter truth is that far too many councils are in the 30% to 40% zone or even lower. Every local authority needs to do its upmost to maximise recycling, particularly those that are capable of doing 50% or better as there are a number of others which will probably struggle to get near that milestone rate.”
Greenredeem
Elsewhere, recycling rewards and incentives scheme operator Greenredeem has also praised the recycling rates achieved by the councils it had partnered with to offer recycling incentives to householders.
It added that Halton borough council had seen the ‘greatest’ improvement in its recycling rate rising from an average of 27.5% in 2008/09 to 46.8% in 2014/15. However, the authority terminated the partnership in October citing a lack of funding from central government (see letsrecycle.com story).
“I am delighted that we have been rewarding residents who recycle in London”
Councillor Bassam Mahfouz
Ealing London Borough Council
In London, where Greenredeem runs a scheme for Ealing council, the authority’s lead member for transport, environment and leisure, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz said: “I am delighted that we have been rewarding residents who recycle in Ealing. With more than 24,500 subscribers, the scheme has helped us continue to increase our recycling rates whilst also supporting some fantastic local community groups. I’d encourage others to sign up and get your neighbours to do so too. You can receive personal discounts, support good work in the community and do the right thing for the environment.” Ealing’s rate has risen from 36% to 40.4%.
Rob Crumbie, Greenredeem’s director of marketing & communications, said: “With just five years to go to 2020, there needs to be a significant step change in the way in which we ask householders to recycle and reduce the amount of waste they produce. The current trend is clear, and despite all the hard work and efforts being put in by councils, a change of approach is required. From the rates published this week, it’s clear that there is a very strong link between rewarding residents, and changing their behaviour.”
- The benefits of outsourcing waste services to the private sector will be under discussion at the Remunicipalisation Conference in January 2016. For more information click here.
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