Camden renews Veolia waste contract

The eight-year arrangement, which could be extended to up to 16 years, is worth an estimated £338 million over its lifetime.

Starting in April 2017, the deal will also see Veolia continue to deliver street cleansing services as well as commercial waste collections and winter maintenance.

In addition, Veolia will be responsible for new services including public engagement, customer service and marketing commercial waste services.

Estelle Brachlianoff, Senior Executive Vice President, Veolia UK and Ireland said: “Camden Council is a long standing and highly valued client. We are delighted to be continuing our operations in the borough and we look forward to working in partnership with the Council, local residents and businesses to deliver vital services.

“As Business in the Community’s Responsible Business of the Year 2016 we will support a more sustainable future for everyone in the years ahead.”

Bid

Veolia has overseen Camden’s waste services since 2003, but cost-saving initiatives due to be rolled out when the contract is renewed next year had resulted in an attempt by four Conservative councillors to block the bid.

Changes include charging residents £75 per year for garden waste collections, while rolling out weekly collections of dry recycling and food waste. At the same time, Camden is to roll out 120-litre refuse bins and instigate a no side waste policy while reducing collection frequency from weekly to fortnightly.

Despite opposition to the proposals, which aim to save the Labour-run authority up to £3 million per year, the council’s culture and environment scrutiny committee gave a green light to the plans earlier this month (see letsrecycle.com story).

Opportunity

Councillor Meric Apak, Camden council’s cabinet member for Sustainability and Environment, said: “I am excited at the opportunity to look at how we can best provide a modern-day service for the people of Camden. The new Environment Services contract that we have agreed will maximise up to date technology so that the service becomes both more efficient and responsive, in order to meet the needs of the council, and its residents and businesses.”