Household waste and recycling collections in Bridgend could soon change under new plans from the council, following discussions that took place at a cabinet meeting on June 14. Household waste is currently collected for the local council by private providers Kier Services, however as the firm's contract is set to run out in 2024 a new operator will have to be found.
Ahead of that date, officials have been discussing plans to bring in changes for the next operator that would include increasing the types of materials that can be recycled, as well as potentially changing the collection methods of waste using alternative containers. They would also look at a new fleet of low-emission bin lorries which bosses say would be "cleaner".
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While full plans have yet to be announced, Councillor John Spanswick, cabinet member for communities, said the discussions were the first step in developing an all new waste service for the borough.
He said: "This marks the first steps in the development of an all-new new waste and recycling service for Bridgend County Borough. The temporary arrangement would cover the period up to 2026 to ensure that waste and collection services could continue in the short term while the council takes full account of the emerging national picture, and uses it to build the new long-term service model.
"It would mean that the authority will have time to ensure that any new waste and recycling service is capable of hitting its targets while delivering maximum benefits, both for the council and for local residents, while also enabling extensive public consultation on any proposed changes to how the future service might operate."
The service, which is currently provided by Kier Services Limited, has been outsourced to commercial operators since 2003 and is subject to renewal every seven years. Kier Services has since confirmed that it intends to leave the waste market in order to focus on other areas of business.
Members of the council will also explore if the new service should be outsourced, provided in-house, or even provided as part of a partnership with neighbouring authorities. However, future Welsh Government recycling targets have not yet been announced, and new legislative requirements are imminent which could also potentially affect any new service.
Council officers will now start exploring available options and will deliver further reports and updates to Cabinet as the proposals develop. You can read more of our stories from Bridgend here.
