The Kent local authorities, which are all a part of the Kent Resource Partnership, are looking into the possibility of a joint waste and recycling collection deal with early discussions ongoing over a joint procurement process which could start later this year.
At present, Tunbridge Wells council’s waste and recycling collections are provided by Biffa, under a 10-year contract which began in 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story). The contract was initially awarded to Cory Environmental, which sold its municipal contracts to Biffa in June 2016 as part of a restructuring of the business (see letsrecycle.com story).
In Dartford, waste and recycling collections are provided by Amey, whilst Tonbridge & Malling council’s waste and recycling collections are provided by Veolia.
Sovereignty
At a meeting this month, Tunbridge Wells council’s cabinet approved the continuing discussion over a partnership between the three authorities, but councillors noted the importance of maintaining ‘sovereignty’ over the design of a new service.
In a report published ahead of the meeting on 13 April, council officers stated: “The opportunity for partnership working within the new contract is evident. The current waste collection contracts for Dartford and Tonbridge and Malling councils also run until 2019 and discussions are taking place, together with KCC [Kent county council], to enable a joint procurement process to be undertaken.
“The Task and Finish Group is mindful that, whilst looking at the options available and accepting that some standardisation of a service across a partnership is inevitable, retaining sovereignty over the design and management of a new service, and maintaining the high quality of the existing service is essential – as very few complaints are received about the standard currently provided.
“There is a risk attached to the potential equalisation of differing collection costs across those authorities in a partnership but there are also opportunities for efficiencies that can be shared and for a reduction in disposal costs from increased recycling rates which can also be shared.”
Partnership
Increasingly councils are looking to joint procurement of contracts for the collection of waste and recycling with neighbouring authorities as a way of reducing costs and providing a standardised service across local authority boundaries.
Three councils in Kent – Swale, Ashford and Maidstone already operate a joint waste contract – under the Mid Kent Waste Partnership Banner. The three authorities awarded a joint 10-year contract to Biffa in 2012.
Last week, four Surrey councils, Elmbridge, Woking, Surrey Heath and Mole Valley announced the establishment of a joint organisation – Joint Waste Services – to deliver waste services in the region through a contract with Amey which begins in June this year (see letsrecycle.com).
Register for free to comment