Council launches recycling scheme for businesses - The Malvern Observer

Council launches recycling scheme for businesses

Malvern Editorial 30th Oct, 2014 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

THE DISTRICT council has proposed to spend nearly a quarter of a million pounds on transforming its commercial waste collection service to help businesses recycle.

The move which was tabled before the executive board last night (Tuesday) includes a lump sum of £160,000 to spend on a large collection vehicle, a further £63,000 to fund 450 waste bins and £25,000 for temporary staff while the change in service takes place.

It comes after the Waste Regulations legislation introduced new requirements in 2011 meaning the council has to make separate collections for four specified types of recyclable waste from the start of next year.

It has already resulted in the controversial introduction of wheeled bins for residential collections in May 2013, a political saga which saw the council investigate itself after claims the change was essentially made without councillors knowing about it until the last minute.




Council chiefs have since argued the move has been a success resulting in an increase in recycling rates.

Ivor Pumfrey, head of community services at Malvern Hills District Council, said the authority had long hoped to provide a recycling collection service for its business customers, but uncertainty about the level of possible take-up and a competitive market place had made the move difficult.


But he said the legislation had ‘levelled the playing field’ and confirmed Malvern Hills had now agreed with Worcestershire County Council to dispose waste at Norton’s Envirosort plant.

Mr Pumfrey added the district council would be able to provide its commercial waste service at a lower cost because of the reduced tariffs of recycling compared to landfill.

Some businesses in more rural parts of Malvern which currently has its waste collected by the council are set to miss out when the changes come into effect.

But Mr Pumfrey added this disadvantage would be offset by being able to service a wider part of the district thanks to the new larger vehicle.

He said: “It has long been this council’s ambition to provide a recycling collection service to its commercial waste customers. Delivering on this ambition has however been challenging and complicated given that the council has a relatively small number of customers, depends upon the county council’s treatment and disposal facilities and operates in a highly competitive marketplace.

“Lengthy negotiations with the county council to provide treatment of commercial waste collected for recycling have recently been concluded, Malvern Hills will be the first district council in Worcestershire to benefit from the arrangements.”

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