HW Martin chosen for multi-million pound Cheshire contract

The council announced this week that it is in the final stages of agreeing a 10-year deal with the recycling firm, which will start in February 2008 and could be extended for an additional five year period.

The deal will see H W Martin taking over from incumbent operator Waste Recycling Group, which currently runs three landfill sites in Cheshire and is the county's residual waste disposal contractor.

Cheshire – which currently has a county-wide recycling rate of 37% – hopes that the performance-based contract will divert more waste from landfill at each site and help to boost the centres' recycling and composting rates to 60%.

Environment executive member for Cheshire Andrew Needham said: “This is an important contract which offers a valuable opportunity to build upon and improve recycling rates in the country.”

“We are confident that the bid received from H W Martin represents value for money for Cheshire taxpayers, and we look forward to establishing a long and successful partnership, ” he added.

Tender

During Cheshire's tender process, four companies were short-listed for the recycling centre contract including WRG, Veolia Environmental Services and SITA UK (see letsrecycle.com story) .

H W Martin Waste Ltd's bid was chosen for its affordability and the company's experience in running recycling centres in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

It is expected that the company will start collecting new materials at the recycling centres in order to boost recycling, although details have not yet been decided.

John Thistlewood, from waste and planning at Cheshire council, said: “We are hoping to sign the contract as soon as possible, probably some time in the next month.”