And, following the award, the company unveiled plans to broaden the scope of the waste and recycling collection service it already provides for the North London borough.
The decision to widen the service provided by Veolia comes as a result of the council recognising the need to broaden the scope of its waste collection services to meet national and North London Waste Authority (NLWA) requirements to increase recycling and minimise residual waste.
Pascal Hauret, London municipal operations director at Veolia, said: “We are overjoyed to have regained one of the most important contracts in our portfolio. Now the onus is on us to deliver on our promises and we look forward to continuing our excellent working partnership with Camden council in providing an even more improved service to the borough's residents.”
The contract extension – which includes both the provision of waste and recycling collections and street cleansing services – is set to come into effect from April 2010, when the current seven-year contract between the two parties is due to expire (see letsrecycle.com story), and last until 31 March 2017.
Commingled
All Veolia's proposed changes to the existing collection systems are set to be decided on during the budget setting process undertaken by Camden council next month. The proposals include:
– The addition of a separate collection of paper and cardboard to its existing commingled collection of glass, aluminium cans, plastic bags and plastic bottles.
– Plans to operate individual colour glass collections from recycling bring bank sites.
– The provision of weekly, borough-wide green and food waste collections from the kerbside for households and in a communal collection point for housing estates and tower blocks.
– Greater encouragement for more recycling in schools.
Councillor Chris Knight, executive member for environment at Camden council, said: “Our recycling audit gave us a detailed picture of how we could improve our service and we are committed to taking up that challenge where we can. Our residents are recycling more of their waste than ever and it's down to us to provide the service they deserve at the best possible value.”
In the minutes of an Executive meeting held on January 7, the council said that extending the deal would offer the council value for money and highlighted the fact that no other “major companies” would be able to tender for the contracts as the council did not own its own depot facility capable of housing 67 refuse vehicles.
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