Yorwaste signs Scarborough recycling contract

The contract, worth an estimated 5 million over its lifetime, will see Yorwaste handle commingled paper, cans, glass, cardboard, plastic bottles collected from households in the borough. The company already undertakes similar work for the council under a previous contract.

Material will be taken to the firms waste transfer stations at Seamer Carr and Fairfield Way, Whitby where it will be bulked and transported to UPMs Shotton materials recycling facility (MRF).

Once sorted, the materials will be sold with the income offsetting the cost to the council.

In total, Yorwaste expects to recycle some 15,000 tonnes of material per year a figure that could rise with the introduction of kerbside glass collections from summer 2014, which is currently being piloted in the Whitby area.

The firm is also expected to handle the councils green waste, which will be composted at Seamer Carr site to ensure it meets the UK national PAS 100 standard.

Steve Grieve, managing director of Yorwaste, said: Yorwaste has undertaken the recycling, transfer and composting services for Scarborough borough council for the last 15 years, so we are delighted to be awarded this new contract and to continue our excellent partnership with the borough council.

‘Value’

Working with the council, our aim is to maximise the value of the recyclable materials that are collected from kerbsides throughout the borough.

We also look forward to making a contribution towards assisting the council to meet its waste reduction and recycling targets, which are now so important with the cost of waste disposal increasing year on year.”

Mr Grieve added: The new contract will also help to safeguard local jobs and support sustainability as the materials will all be sent to reprocessors in the north of the UK rather than having to be sent abroad.

Steve Reynolds, environment manager at Scarborough borough council, added: Simplifying recycling for our residents has been our goal and the ability to include glass in our commingled collections is something we have worked towards for some time; it is great news that we can finally deliver such a comprehensive recycling service to our residents.

In August 2013, Yorwaste won a five-year contract to process and sell an estimated 11,000 tonnes of dry recyclate annually for Redcar & Cleveland borough council (see letsrecycle.com story).