FCC awarded £40 million Kent HWRC contract

The contract, which was previously held by Biffa (see letsrecycle.com story), also covers the haulage of wastes from the HWRC sites as well as three transfer stations. 

FCC said it will “bring a range of benefits to the contract including a dedicated haulage fleet and an experienced management team, with extensive knowledge and understanding of operating both haulage and HWRC operations”.  

The contract will start on 1st November 2020 and run for an initial five years with a possible five year extension. 

Cabinet member for environment at Kent county council, Susan Carey, said: “With 3.5 million visits to our sites every year this is an important service for Kent residents and a major contract for KCC. I welcome the opportunity to work with FCC to improve recycling rates as part of our Net Zero ambition for Kent.” 

The contract with Kent county council will add to FCC’s offering in the area, as it already operates a 500,000 tonnes per year capacity energy from waste plant at Allington Quarry, on the outskirts of Maidstone. 

Facilities 

Under the new contract, FCC will manage HWRCs at Sittingbourne, Ashford, New Romney, Faversham, Sheerness, Dover, Herne Bay, Folkestone, Canterbury, Deal, Margate and Richborough. It will manage three waste transfer stations at Ashford, Sittingbourne and Dover. 

In 2019, when the council opted to introduce charges at its facilities (see letsrecycle.com story), the council estimated the HWRCs receive

“It’s good to be enhancing our relationship with Kent county council to continue to improve recycling rates”

Steve Longdon, operations director, FCC

approximately 185,000 tonnes of waste from around 3.5 million visits per year, at a cost of approximately £10 million to the taxpayer.

Steve Longdon, operations director, FCC Environment said: “FCC Environment is one of the UK’s most trusted resource and waste management businesses. We hold over 100 contracts with some 60 local authorities up and down the country operating some 100 Household Waste and Recycling Centres so we consider ourselves to be a safe pair of hands. 

“But as we move towards a green recovery which will see major changes to the way we recycle, not just in England but in the whole of the UK, it’s good to be enhancing our relationship with Kent county council to continue to improve recycling rates and make an environmental contribution by doing the right thing.”