The first household recycling, refuse and green waste collections as part of the new 12 million contract between Crawley borough council and Biffa have started this week (February 3).
According to the council, the seven-year contract which commenced this month will save taxpayers 2.8 million over its lifetime and includes the option to extend for a further three years to 2024.
The contract was awarded to Biffa by the council in September 2013 and replaces the previous contract with Veolia Environmental Services (see letsrecycle.com story). It means that Biffa now provides collection services for 12 local authorities in the South East.
The service will see refuse collected once each week with separate dry recyclables and green waste collected on a fortnightly basis.
Meanwhile, separate collections of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), batteries and textiles are also set to be introduced by Biffa over the coming months.
‘A number of changes will take place over the coming months which will ensure a smoother more efficient waste and recycling service for the town. We will continue to keep residents informed and up-to-date.’
Crawley borough councillor Ken Trussell
Funded by a 1.15 million grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government, 43,000 properties in Crawley will receive free wheeled bins for refuse. The bins will be delivered to residents in June, July and September this year.
As part of the new service, Crawley council has also bought its own fleet of 12 collection vehicles, which it says will be better value for money compared to the waste contractor providing them as the council can borrow money at lower interest rates.
And, the council said, the vehicles will produce significantly lower emissions, use quieter bin lifts and will be capable of smaller turning circles which will enable them to have better access in certain parts of the town.
The council added: New technology in the vehicles and offices will be introduced over the coming months to provide much quicker exchange of information to keep the service running smoothly.
Crawley borough councillor Ken Trussell, cabinet member for environment, said: Its fantastic to see our new contract with Biffa begin, a lot of work has gone into securing a great deal for Crawley residents.
A number of changes will take place over the coming months which will ensure a smoother more efficient waste and recycling service for the town. We will continue to keep residents informed and up-to-date.
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