Awarded yesterday, the five year and one month deal promises to provide an “upgraded” service to the Essex authority from January, including weekly rather than fortnightly recycling collections.
 Cllr Michael Talbot, Tendring's portfolio holder for the environment (right) and local residents mark Veolia Environmental Services' contract win |
Green recycling boxes will also be collected on the same day as residual waste, to make it more convenient for residents to put out their recyclable materials.
Michael Talbot, portfolio holder for the environment at Tendring council, said: “I am absolutely delighted we have been able to achieve this increased level of collection which will start on January 1.”
“There will be a minimum expansion in the cost – and a maximum expansion in the service,” he added.
Targets
Under the new contract, which will be worth 2.1 million a year, the same material will be collected as before – including paper, cardboard, cans and plastic containers.
Yet the council hopes that Veolia's service alterations, including extending collections to all residents and schools and the funding of new recycling development officer, will boost its 22% recycling rate to meet government targets for 2007/08.
Cllr Talbot explained: “More green boxes will be available and we will be doing everything we can to hit the 24 % target set by the government – and to go even further than that. It will mean less of our waste going to landfill sites which is a major plus for the environment.”
“Delivering”
Veolia has provided waste and recycling collection services in the waste collection authority of Tendring since 1990, under its former name of Onyx (see letsrecycle.com story). However, the company still had to fight off competition from six other companies to win the new contract.
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Cyrille du Peloux, Veolia's chief executive for the UK, said: “It is always good news to regain a contract, as it shows we have been delivering what we promised for the area.”
He added: “We will continue to provide residents with a thorough, efficient and reliable refuse and recycling service.”
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