The contract is supported with 25 million of PFI credits from the government, and the council says its total value could be up to 500 million over 25 years.
Under a “Reclaim West Sussex” logo, the deal will begin from April 1, and covers recycling and waste handling, but not disposal. It is thought that a new contract for waste disposal – which would include residual waste treatment – could be put out by the county in the next few years.
”We will be investing significant capital to provide new and improved recycling and waste handling facilities.“
– Mike Hellings, Viridor MD
Commenting on the contract, West Sussex cabinet member for strategic planning and environment Steve Waight said: “This is a flagship contract for the county council and I am confident that it will deliver significant improvements.”
Viridor will be taking over a network of facilities including around 13 civic amenity sites, nine of which are to be completely rebuilt and redesigned to improve performance, as well as being rebranded “household waste recycling centres”.
New infrastructure will also include a 6.6 million “showcase” materials recycling facility (MRF) at Ford, near Littlehampton. This will initally process about 40,000 tonnes of material each year, and will eventually have a capacity of 100,000 tonnnes, based on a three-shift system.
The MRF will replace the existing plant at Sompting, which is due to close in 2006, and will also include an education centre to promote waste awareness. The company is hoping to get planning permission for the plant by the end of this year, so that it can be up and running in 2006.
Targets
Viridor will aim to improve household waste recycling rates in the county from the current 20% to 45% by 2015. Mr Waight said that there was a determination on all sides not just to reach the 45% target, but to exceed it.
Along with this, Viridor has been set targets to recycle 50% of the material taken to the county's household waste recycling centres, 85% of material taken to its MRF and a composting target of 70% of the green waste collected in the county.
Viridor managing director, Mike Hellings, said: “We will be investing significant capital to provide new and improved recycling and waste handling facilities across the county to assist West Sussex county council to deliver high recycling performance in the years ahead.”
A website has been set up to provide information to residents on recycling, at www.reclaim-westsussex.co.uk.
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