Recycling and waste collections in two districts will continue to be provided by Veolia after the district councils in Folkestone & Hythe and Dover awarded the company a new joint contract at the conclusion of a tender process.
Folkestone & Hythe District Council (F&HDC) and Dover District Council (DDC) have now confirmed the award of the contract to the company, which will also carry on providing street cleaning across the area as part of the deal.
Veolia has been providing these services since 2011 and the new eight-year contract will start on 16 January 2021. It will see the introduction of a number of initiatives to help the Authorities achieve their objective of Carbon Net Zero by 2030, including a new green fleet of vehicles and electric sweepers, and redesigned collection routes to minimise travel times and the environmental impact of the service.
Over the past decade, the company has collected more than half a million tonnes of recycling and waste in the districts. The key elements of the service will remain unchanged, including:
- Alternating fortnightly waste and recycling collections
- Weekly food waste collections
- A wide range of street cleaning services
The new contract will also see the introduction of cleaner air vehicles including electric street cleaning equipment, and the implementation of Veolia's Contractor's Service Management Systems that will manage the differing requirements for each Council.
There is currently a special focus on street cleaning during what is a very busy period for the district, with Veolia actively using technology to respond to changes in rubbish levels and manage the service appropriately as a result. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Veolia to ensure residents get the best possible service when it comes to recycling and waste services.
We’ve also sent out a big thank you to the crews for their fantastic work in maintaining regular collections throughout these unprecedented times during the coronavirus lockdown. We look forward to continuing to work with Veolia for the future.