FCC begins South Ribble collection contract

The contract, worth over £21 million, began last week on June 15 and will run until 2022 with the option for a seven-year extension.

Under the deal signed earlier this year, FCC will collect residual waste and recyclables on alternate weeks.

At present, glass, cans and plastic bottles are collected together in a blue-lidded wheeled bin, with paper and card collected separately in a green box. Mixed food waste and green waste will meanwhile be collected alongside recycling.

FCC was one of four waste firms to bid for the contract, and replaces Amey, formerly Enterprise, which had previously run the collection contract since 2005.

South Ribble council claims the appointment of FCC will save its residents £4.2 million over the term of the seven-year contract. It adds that the saving will be ‘vital’ in helping the council protect frontline services in time for calculating the 2015/16 budget.

Fleet

In addition, the council has pledged to invest £1 million in the budget for the purchase of five new low-emission vehicles to expand its waste collection fleet.

In 2013/14, the council achieved a combined recycling rate of 50.5% making it one of the top-performing local authorities in Lancashire.

Commenting on the contract award earlier this year, councillor Peter Mullineaux, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and street scene, said the appointment represented a “fantastic saving”.

He said: “In these financially challenging times, where we are continually having to look at streamlining and making savings where we can, this is a big deal for the council. It means that we have more money to spend on the vital services that residents value highly, and on delivering projects to make South Ribble a great place to be.

“I would also like to offer our sincere thanks to Amey, our current waste partner, which has supported the council for the last 10 years, maintaining an excellent service, with high customer satisfaction and recycling rates.”

Paul Taylor, group chief executive, FCC Environment, added: “We are delighted to be working with South Ribble borough council on its waste and recycling management. We share the council’s ambition to maximise recycling while delivering savings and offering a flexible customer-focused service.”