Shared waste collection contract makes £2 million pound savings for EHDC and WCC
A partnership between East Hampshire District Council and Winchester City Council to provide environmental services will net around £2 million per year in savings for local residents.
Services covering refuse collection, recycling and street cleaning as well grass-cutting and maintenance of public land across both councils will be provided by private companies under a new joint contract.
Biffa Waste Services Ltd has been awarded the waste collection contract, while the grounds maintenance and streetcare work has been won by EHDC’s current contractor The Landscape Group. The two companies submitted a joint tender and this partnership helped them put together a winning bid.
The savings will be made through more flexible working patterns, making better use of vehicles and crews and by creating a single council team responsible for management of the contracts for both councils.
Sandy Hopkins, Chief Executive of East Hampshire District Council, said: “Combining the services has taken two years of hard work and perseverance but will now result in the two councils making huge savings for the benefit of council tax payers.”
Simon Eden, Chief Executive of Winchester City Council, said: “The shared waste contract is the first in Hampshire and a national first in sharing such a wide range of environmental services.”
Beginning in October the new scheme will continue to maintain the high standards set in the past and provide more opportunities for future efficiencies and service developments.
The contract has been awarded for eight years with the option to extend for another eight years after that.
Along with improved value for money it is expected that the service residents receive will improve thanks to the flexible working patterns Biffa intends to employ.
Bin routes will now cross the boundary between the two authorities and so some residents will be given new bin collection days. Any changes to bin routes will be well publicised in advance.