Greenstar hails launch of four sorting deals

The Irish-owned company began sorting recyclables earlier this month for the North London Waste Authority (NLWA), at its 'super MRF' at Aldridge, in the West Midlands, in a five-year deal initially involving 20,000 tonnes of recyclables a year but potentially rising to 40,000 tonnes-a-year.

And, last month, it began sorting materials at the same facility for Coventry city council and Enfield council, as well as material provided by Waste Recycling Group under its contract with Hull city council.

Commenting on the new arrangements, the company's chief executive, Ian Wakelin, said: “These new contracts are a powerful vote of confidence in Greenstar's ability to process recyclables, whether commingled or source-separated, to the quality that satisfies market needs. Local councils demand and deserve the most efficient processing to ensure maximum recycling and reuse of their materials.

“They are also another big step on Greenstar's progress towards its goal of being the biggest recycling-led waste management company in the UK,” he added.

Under the NLWA deal, which was originally awarded to Greenstar in July 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story), recyclables are being tipped at the company's Atlas facility at Edmonton, in North London, before being transported to the 300,000 tonne-a-year capacity Aldridge MRF for sorting.

The Atlas facility was acquired by Greenstar in July 2008 as the site of its second 'super MRF' (see letsrecycle.com story), and, when the MRF is up-and-running on site, Greenstar plans to sort the NLWA waste there.

In Enfield, an initial four-year deal for up to 16,000 tonnes of material a year also involves recyclables being tipped at the Atlas site before being sent to Aldridge, while around 17,000 tonnes of recyclables are set to be sent straight Aldridge for sorting in the first year of the deal with Coventry city council, which could rise to 35,000 tonnes-a-year.

The Hull deal, which will last for 30 months, involves recyclables being collected commingled under the WRG's new contract with city council being sent to Aldridge for sorting. Initially, the contract is set to involve a minimum of 18,000 tonnes of material a year, but this could rise to 25,000 tonnes-a-year.

Greenstar has said that, if the scheme proves successful, it may also be adopted by the neighbouring East Riding council.