Dorset councils considering linking up for new integrated waste contract

One of the best counties in the UK when it comes to recycling with a rate of about 27%, Dorset is beginning a Best Value review and is also developing a joint waste strategy. The strategy, which may lead to the use of new technologies including Mechanical Biological Treatment, is to be the subject of a final county council decision on June 4, 2003.

Dorset county council waste policy officer Adrian Poller told letsrecycle.com that local authorities in the county are weighing up the benefits of an integrated waste contract, which might involve a single contractor.

Mr Poller said: “We developed a joint waste strategy and are now undergoing a joint best value review. We are now considering an integrated waste contract.”

He described the options being considered by the councils: “The most radical is to have one contract package managed by one organisation.”

Alternatives to this included an integrated collection service, integrated recycling activities or just greater collaboration in areas like training and health and safety.

Currently, each authority has a separate contract for its waste services. “There is already a high level of cooperation,” Mr Poller explained, “When each authority makes a new contract it reviews it with the others.”

The Best Value review is being assisted by the technical and management consultancy, Babtie Group. This review should help the councils decide about the contract and suggest features to be included in it, the Dorset waste policy officer said.

Although the councils are looking to improve the efficiency of the service, the main reason for considering the integrated contract is to lower costs. “Cost is at the heart of it,” admitted Mr Poller, “There is the possibility of making a significant saving.”

As with other high-performing councils in the UK, the government has set Dorset a high recycling target, 40%, to reach by 2005-06. The partnership approach that Dorset is considering has been shown to be successful in a number of other areas, such as in Hampshire's Project Integra.