In January 2011 Biffa commenced a seven-year contract to collect recyclables at the kerbside on behalf of the council. Material is sorted at the kerbside by the company using specialist Kerbsider vehicles.
However Runnymede has now decided to move to a commingled collection service which will enable it to bring the service in house and save the council money.
The council already collects refuse and green waste from residents and by moving to a commingled service, it will be able to us use its existing vehicles and crew to collect dry recyclables as well.
Under the new scheme, recyclables will be collected one week and residual waste the next. Food waste collections, which will also be undertaken by the council, will continue to take place weekly.
Improvement
The council said an improvement in sorting technology at material recycling facilities (MRFs) meant it is now possible to gain a higher quality material through commingled collection, for which it will receive an income. The materials will be sent to an as-yet unnamed modern MRF.
Commenting on the move, council leader Patrick Roberts said: When the enhanced recycling service was introduced, the council wished to continue a kerbside-sorted collection where residents place different materials for recycling into a range of containers with this separation maintained on the collection vehicles. At that time separated recyclable materials was of higher quality and therefore more value than commingled. Technology at recovery facilities has improved hugely over the last few years and it is now possible to derive high quality material from collections of co-mingled recycling products.
Mutual
The decision to end the contract was mutual and both Biffa and Runnymede said they were happy with the relationship and service provided.
Commenting on the contract Roger Edwards Biffas managing director, said: We’re more than happy to work with the council during this transition to a fully commingled recycling service which will ultimately make recycling easier for residents, produce more material and increase the councils recycling rate.
Service
Under the current contract residents have: a blue box for glass, cans, aerosols and aluminium foil; a blue bag for paper; a black box for cardboards and plastic; and, a black bag for textiles.
New wheeled bins for the commingled recyclables are expected to be rolled-out in the summer. The new service is expected to start in October 2012.
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