Its new Maidstone service will deliver alternate week collections of residual waste and commingled dry recyclables in wheeled bins, weekly collection of food caddies and an opt-in subscription based garden waste collection service.
The service will also allow Maidstone residents to recycle an improved range of dry recyclables, including plastic containers, glass and drinks cartons, which will be sent to Biffas materials recycling facility (MRF) in north London.
In addition, residents will also be able to recycle small electrical and electronic waste equipment (WEEE) and waste textiles, following the introduction of alternating weekly kerbside collections for the two materials.
Meanwhile, a fleet of 14 Biffa vehicles, including split-body collection trucks with compartments for both refuse or recycling (70%) and food waste (30%), will be rolled out across Maidstone. The combined service could significantly reduce vehicle numbers, fuel use and emissions.
‘We are pleased that the roll-out is going smoothly, and are delighted to see Maidstone residents responding so positively’
Pete Dickson, Biffa municipal development director
Biffas municipal development director, Pete Dickson, said Maidstones new service represents another major step on the road to making a real difference to the areas waste reduction performance.
He added: While Maidstones service change is not as extensive as Ashfords, it is nonetheless an important part of the Partnerships plans. We are pleased that the roll-out is going smoothly, and are delighted to see Maidstone residents responding so positively.
Increase
It is hoped the move will push up recycling performance across the borough, helping it to increase its current recycling, reuse and composting rate of 44.6% to over 50% by 2015. It is a goal Biffa will strive to mirror in Ashford, which ranked the lowest across all English local authorities in 2011/12 with a combined rate of 14%, according to data released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) (see letsrecycle.com story).
In March this year, community recycling scheme WyeCycle, which at the time was sub-contracted by Ashford council, claimed it was being killed off by the Partnerships long-term contract. The council denied claims it had not conducted discussions with WyeCycle over the service (see letsrecycle.com story).
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Mid Kent Waste Partnership is comprised of Ashford, Maidstone and Swale borough councils. Biffa will introduce its service to Swale in early 2014.
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