Two local authorities in the south of the country are pursuing changes to their waste services, in the hope of achieving savings and driving up recycling.
Last week, Reading borough council launched a public consultation on its plans to “market test” the outsourcing of the waste and recycling service to private companies.
And, Luton borough council, a unitary authority in Bedfordshire, is to switch to fortnightly residual waste collections.
Reading
Reading borough council plans to “market test” the outsourcing of the waste service (picture: Shutterstock)
The council said it has identified £2m worth of savings from outsourcing a range of services it currently delivers itself. The authority said it must achieve £42m in cost reduction from a net budget for services of £143m.
And, the authority highlighted that the market test will evaluate both the “cost and quality” of the delivery of its waste collection and streetcare service.
The council explained that its current service will be compared to the best external bids received “to determine which is the most economically advantageous to the Council and residents and decide whether to recommend an award of a contract or to retain the service in house”.
Some of the benefits of working with third-party partners, beyond cost savings, the authority says, are the creation of greater capacity to deal with periods of high demand and potential investment in technology.
Earlier this year, the Environmental Services Association (ESA), which represents waste management firms, highlighted advantages that councils can gain when they take advantage of competition through procurement of a private sector contract.
And, ESA claimed that the projected savings to local authorities for bringing their waste services in-house are often “inaccurate”.
Following the announcement of the consultation review, GNB trade union officer Nikki Dancey said: “The recent collapse of Carillion and the very unstable financial position of many private contractors in the public sector should be evidence enough for the council that outsourcing is not only far worse for the staff involved but is now proven not even to be economically beneficial.”
Ms Dancey added: “Indeed, many Tory councils who have in the past sought to privatise services are now bringing those same services back in house because of the financial advantages of doing so.”
The consultation also includes council tax collections, facilities management, highways and civil engineering and fleet management.
Luton
Meanwhile, in Luton, the council’s executive has approved its waste reduction strategy, which includes a move to fortnightly residual waste collections from the current weekly service.
Luton borough council has approved its waste reduction strategy, which includes a move to fortnightly residual waste collections
The strategy, which focusses on reducing the amount of waste produced, particularly food, was consulted on earlier this year. Almost 5,000 people responded with three quarters agreeing with the plan, the council said.
Other changes include kerbside collections for glass extended to all households and 3,000 households will be added to the existing garden waste collection service.
Cllr Tom Shaw, portfolio holder for Waste said: “Despite facing major financial pressures we are absolutely committed to continuing to provide a high quality waste and recycling service.
“We must reduce the amount of waste we are producing, particularly food which makes up around 40% of the waste in our bins and costs around £3m for us to collect and dispose of it.”
Mr Shaw said 30,000 new larger recycling bins have been provided. An extensive town wide campaign will take place including a leaflet to all households detailing the changes.
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Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
