Torfaen Council has awarded a new contract for its recycling centre, ensuring waste services continue smoothly for residents in the borough.
Pontypool: A new contract to run the household recycling centre in Torfaen has just been approved. It’s interesting because only one company put in a bid for the job.
The current contract is set to end in March, so the council needed to act fast. Without a new deal, they would have struggled to keep waste services running smoothly.
They even thought about bringing the service back in-house but decided against it. They figured they didn’t have the resources, and it turns out that the costs per household are lower than in similar areas.
Residents can drop off their recyclables at the centre, which also has a van permit scheme. The goal is to recycle at least 80% of what comes in.
They also handle food waste, garden waste, and other non-recyclable items collected by the council. This operation is crucial for hitting the Welsh Government’s target of recycling 70% of the borough’s waste this year.
Mark Thomas, the highways director, shared that the five-year contract, which has options for renewal, fits within the budget they set. He’s confident it offers good value, though he couldn’t share specific financial details in the public meeting.