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The smooth launch of an innovative waste and recycling contract got a helping hand today (7th June) as Suffolk councillors and industry bosses joined the crew of a refuse vehicle on their rounds.
The waste partnership, which went live in April, brings together Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils with contractor Serco. The sheer scale of the 14-year deal offers the possibility of annual savings in the region of at least £133k for each Council – as well as new ways of both reducing the environmental impact of the waste collection operation and increasing recycling opportunities.
Representatives from each of the partners joined a refuse collection crew to experience at first hand how the operation was going before ending up at the Materials Recycling Facility at Great Blakenham.
“The most important objective in the first few months of the contract was that everything went so smoothly that no one noticed the contractor had changed!” explained Cllr. Humphrey Todd, Babergh’s Procurement Champion. “I think we can say ‘mission accomplished’ to that”.
“It is a unique situation - the first time two local authorities have jointly collaborated together in this way. It is good news for both Mid Suffolk and Babergh residents, as participating together we have made significant savings and created better value for money” described Councillor Roy Barker, Recycling and Environment Portfolio Holder.
Serco’s Managing Director Mike Boult was keen to convey his own enthusiasm, adding “As a company who focus on providing innovative solutions to our customers, the opportunity to work with both councils on this groundbreaking shared services contract is very exciting indeed. We particularly look forward to the challenge of developing a single culture and best operating practice across both sets of the workforce, ensuring a high quality and consistent services to the residents and businesses of Babergh and Mid Suffolk”
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