The arrangement, which is set to turn for 15 and a half years, also includes street cleaning, graffiti removal, operation of the Essex borough’s HWRCs and construction of a waste transfer station.
Veolia was selected as preferred bidder for the contract in March, replacing contractor Cory which has carried out collections on behalf of the authority since 1990.
The council’s opposition leader last year branded the decision to drop Cory from the list of bidders as “perverse” and called on the waste company to appeal (see letsrecycle.com story).
Veolia also saw off competition from Serco, Urbaser, Amey, Biffa and SITA UK (now Suez) to secure the deal. Southend hopes to save around £22 million over the lifetime of the contract.
The council has advised residents to continue to place their recycling and waste out as normal when the service is officially transferred to Veolia on Monday (October 5).
Staff
Staff working for Cory will transfer to Veolia and have already undergone inductions and training.
Councillor Martin Terry, Southend’s executive for Public Protection, Waste & Transport, said: “Recycling, waste and street cleansing services lie at the heart of keeping our borough clean and attractive for residents and visitors alike.
“Awarding this new contract reinforces our commitment to increased recycling, cleaner beaches, streets and parks, and protects local employment by transferring Cory staff over to Veolia.”
He added: “Council officers have been working closely with Veolia and Cory over the past few months to ensure a smooth transition come 5 October. Residents just need to put out their pink recycling sacks, food waste bins and black bin bags on their usual day.”
Investment
Welcoming the start of the contract, Estelle Brachlianoff, senior executive vice president of Veolia UK and Ireland, said the company would be investing £17 million in the borough over the course of the contract.
She said: “Veolia is committed to delivering increased recycling rates and first class services to those that live and work in Southend-on-Sea.”
Subscribe for free