Veolia awarded Telford & Wrekin contract

Worth an estimated 137 million, the contract, which was first advertised by the council in July last year following a 12 month review, was initially divided into separate lots for residual and organic waste, and one for collection plus all other services.

However, following the outcome of a pre-qualification questionnaire submitted by 12 companies in August 2012, the council decided to discontinue lots and progress the procurement on the basis of a single contract.

Services will be introduced in two phases, with a new kerbside recycling service introduced from April 2014 as well as the treatment and disposal of waste not to be recycled.

Second phase

The second phase will deliver a green and grey bin collection service along with management of council-owned community recycling centres (CRCs) from April 2019.
Veolia will assume these duties from Telford & Wrekin Services (TWS), a subsidiary of FCC Environment, although collection days will remain unchanged for the foreseeable future. Employees working for TWS in services falling under the new contract will transfer to the new contractor at an appropriate time.

The council, which hopes the Veolia contract will see improvements to its recycling rate from 43% to 60% in the medium term, anticipates a communications campaign to support and ease the transition of the service, after the legal standstill expires in 10 days.

Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, Employment and Skills, said: Councils have a statutory duty to provide a waste collection and waste disposal service and we believe the successful bidder will provide both value for money and an improved service for the borough.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Veolia Environnement executive vice president UK and Northern Europe, added: We are delighted to have been awarded the waste management services contract by Telford & Wrekin Council and look forward to working together with the council at the next stage.