Northampton's new contractor for bin collection promises all-in-one recycling service for homes

After a nearly six-month tendering process, Veolia UK will take over Northampton's bin and waste management in June.

The council says many residents can expect to see delivery of a third lidded wheelie bin for a all-in-one-bin recycling service, replacing the existing boxes. This will not affect neighbourhoods with sack collections, a spokesman said.

Veolio UK was awarded the ten-year contract at a cabinet meeting last night (January 17).

However, the new contract will cost £3.5million a year more than the existing contract with Enterprise Ltd, and will total some £97million over the next ten years.

Councillor Mike Hallam, cabinet member for environment, said: “Veolia is offering services at a level people deserve but we have been unable to provide through the current contract.“A fundamental issue residents have had is with recyclables being blown out of boxes and littering the streets, so I’m sure those in wheelie bin areas will welcome the introduction of a single bin.“Fine details of the contract will be worked out in the coming months to ensure the kind of excellent service we are expecting is delivered.”

Veolia UK is also the waste management contract for Hampshire County Council and the two unitary authorities of Southampton and Portsmouth.

About 8,000 Northampton people took part in a 2016 survey to help decide what the new contractor should offer.

The council has also moved to buy all the associated vehicles, such as bin lorries, needed for the town's waste management from Enterprise. They say this will save the taxpayer around £1million.

As part of the new service, all dry recyclables will be collected together sorted in a "commingled facility".

The contract will also see kerbside collections of small electrical items introduced and improved reuse of bulky items following collection.

Speaking in December, cabinet member for finance Brandon Eldred said the expensive new contract is "the price of quality", and dismissed the contract with Enterprise as "leaving the town looking "shabby, tired and old".