New Joint Refuse Collection Contract Announced

THE company that has won the new joint refuse collection for Hart District Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has been announced as Veolia Environmental Services.

The move follows three years in which the two councils have worked together to get the best deal for their residents on the new combined contract. It will see Hart and Basingstoke maintain their current frequency of collections.

Basingstoke and Deane has already had a successful relationship  for some years but until now Hart has had its own in-house team collecting rubbish and recycling.

Hart’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Stephen Parker said: ”Our staff have done a stunning job over the years but financial pressures have led us to explore different options. Veolia had the best all round score of the bidding contractors.

“Our existing collection crews will be joining Veolia under the TUPE regulations and we are confident that with Veolia’s quality standards combined with our existing crews’ pride in their work a quality service will be delivered to residents of both authorities.”

Basingstoke and Deane’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, Cllr Elaine Still said: “This is a great opportunity to build on a strong partnership with Veolia that has led to high levels of resident satisfaction with the service.

“Through this new partnership with Hart we can make significant savings of £1 million each year in our area. Through the contract we have reconfirmed our commitment to weekly rubbish collections for our residents and been able to bring in new initiatives to drive up recycling and drive down costs.”