Bristol city council confirmed the seven-year contract this week. But the council said it could not confirm that kerbside recycling work would still be carried out by Resourcesaver. A spokesman said that it was up to SITA who its sub-contractors are and said that it has no control as long as SITA meets the terms of the contract.
Resourcesaver is a subsidiary of Resource Holdings which is linked with Avon Friends of the Earth and currently runs the well-known Bristol kerbside scheme. It is of the biggest in the UK involving 135,000 homes.
A spokesman for SITA said: “Decisions are still going ahead to see what part Resourcesaver will play.” But, Resourcesaver chairman Dick Perry was unavailable for comment. It is thought that the discussions will look at various aspects of the kerbside collection, including the cost of the service.
SITA's regional director, Dave Foster, said: “SITA has proudly served the people of Bristol for many years. We will build upon the current service we provide, invest in new environmentally friendly vehicles and develop new services to increase recycling and composting that meet the
demands of the council and the city's residents.”
The specifications for the contract were developed after consultation with the public last autumn and will meet the waste strategy targets. This should see the recycling rate in Bristol double, from its current 14 per cent rate, over the next seven years.
Councillor Mrs Celia Lukins, executive member for neighbourhood and housing services, said: “We have set out a very high specification in our requirements for this contract. We are determined to ensure that we get the best possible service for our money and start to reduce waste by increasing the opportunities for recycling. The green garden waste collection service, in particular, will revolutionise the way we sort, recycle and dispose of waste in the city and will be one of the first of its kind in the region.”
The contract will see the development of plastics recycling and an increase in the number of mini recycling centres. SITA will provide a collection service for schools and is to use gas and electric vehicles to deliver its services.
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