The news follows on from the recent announcement of the formation of the new Somerset Waste Partnership, which will take over the management of waste and recycling services from the six councils in Somerset.
Click here to find out more about the Somerset Waste Partnership Steve Read, Managing Director of the Somerset Waste Partnership said:
“This is an important step towards our aim of recycling over 50 per cent of our household waste, and we are all delighted to be working with ECT, who have an excellent track record on recycling and waste management. As well as providing value for money, the new contract includes running trials next spring to add cardboard and plastic bottles to the kerbside, which will be another great boost to recycling in Somerset”.
Speaking at the signing of the new contract, Andy Bond, Managing Director of ECT Recycling said: “ The ‘SORT IT!' model at the heart of the partnership contract is the best approach to waste management in the UK. Somerset has one of the highest recycling rates in the UK but more importantly one of the lowest amounts of residual waste . By collecting food waste separately, people become more aware of the amount they are throwing out and start to minimise their waste themselves. We're delighted to be part of this partnership”.
As well as investigating options to add more materials to the kerbside, the new contract will look at harmonising recycling and waste collections throughout Somerset in order to provide a better service to the public. The contract runs for seven years, with the option of two further extensions of up to seven years.
Somerset is already one of the top performing councils in the country, with an overall recycling rate of 47 per cent. |
