The contracts include a three-year deal worth around £1 million for waste management services at Canterbury Christ Church University, covering locations including halls of residence, Student Union bars and café’s, offices, libraries and sporting venues.
According to the company, the work will involve close to 14,000 general waste collections, and 13,000 dry mixed recycling collections annually.
Countrystyle’s sales director, Jamie Houston said: “We are delighted to have secured this contract against tough competition from other national waste companies. Canterbury Christ Church University is undergoing further expansion and it is exciting for such a forward thinking company like Countrystyle to be associated with such a successful educational institution in Kent.”
The Canterbury contract is alongside a five-year deal with services provider Medway Norse as the sole waste management provider for non-hazardous and recyclable materials. Worth just over £0.8m, the contract covers municipal buildings as well as country parks, leisure centres, libraries and theatres in the Medway area. Previously this work was shared by four contractors.
Announcement of the contracts comes as the company has revealed that it has partnered with Kent Fire and Rescue Services and the Environment Agency in a fire training exercise at its Ridham Docks site in Sittingbourne.
Training exercise
The fire service tackled a ‘simulated’ blaze in a wood chipping machine that threatened to engulf an industrial building at the wood recycling site.
Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters and officers took part in the training exercise, including crews from Sheppey, Sittingbourne, Rainham and Eastchurch, who sped to the industrial building after an alarm was raised at 7.00pm.
KFRS firefighters used the latest equipment in the drill, including fog spike, which is effective for firefighting in confined, difficult to access areas such as roof and floor spaces.
The spike punches holes, allowing water to be directed at the hottest part of the fire in the form of a finely dispersed mist. Almost all the water evaporates leading to a faster, more efficient way of tackling the blaze. This is also safer for firefighters as it reduces the risk of backdraught and flashovers occurring, as it dramatically reduces the temperature.
Reducing risk
Sheppey watch manager Andy Bridger-Smart, organiser of the training exercise, said: “Reducing risks and preventing incidents is a critical part of the service we deliver. However, being well prepared to respond to emergencies when they occur is at the centre of what we do.
“Fire can cause major disruption for businesses – there is a far greater chance of recovery if risks have been identified, and appropriate measures put in place to prevent fires starting, or to mitigate their impact. That’s why this type of joint training is essential, it helps ensure plans are tried, tested and validated and that we are all prepared, should the worst happen.
“We are extremely grateful to Countrystyle Recycling for offering us the use of their site to put the theoretical plan into practice.”
Register for free to comment