Big Decision Looms for Thousands of Merseyside Bin Collections Next Week

Wirral: A big decision is coming up for bin collections in the area. The council has been looking into this for a while now, especially after some recent hiccups with collections due to bad weather.

Biffa has been the go-to for waste collection since 2006, handling around 147,000 homes each week. But with the current contract ending in 2027, the council is weighing its options. They’ve narrowed it down to three choices: start a local company, keep outsourcing, or mix both in-house and contracted services.

After some research, it seems that sticking with outsourcing might be the best bet. It’s the cheapest option, and the council is keen to keep costs down. They’re set to discuss this at a meeting soon, and it looks like they’ll be looking for a new contractor to take over.

Five companies are interested in the new contract, including Biffa and a few others. The current deal costs the council about £15.5 million a year, but that’s expected to rise. Plus, there’s a new requirement for food waste collections starting in 2026, which could add more costs. The government is stepping in to help with funding, aiming to boost recycling rates across the board.