The waste and recycling collections service provided by Calderdale Council will be a topic of discussion at its upcoming Cabinet meeting.
In terms of volume, waste and recycling represent the Council’s most substantial service, encompassing over 7.5 million scheduled collections from 95,000 households each year.
Since 2016, the Council has held its current waste and recycling collection contract with SUEZ. Following a recent agreement to extend the contract, the current arrangement will now conclude on 31 July 2026.
During the Calderdale Council’s Cabinet meeting on Monday 13 November, members will review a report outlining plans for the future of waste and recycling provision in the borough beyond 2026, with several options under consideration.
The Council has identified four possibilities: extending the current arrangement with SUEZ; conducting an open market tendering process; considering the insourcing of the service; or establishing a joint venture arrangement – a partnership with another public sector organisation.
The merits of each arrangement have been thoroughly evaluated, with the report designating the joint venture arrangement as the preferred choice. This option would afford the Council greater influence over the future trajectory of the service and any modifications necessitated by legislation, while also assuring residents of a robust and dependable service. Additionally, it is acknowledged as providing the best value for money to the Council amid challenging financial circumstances.
In pursuit of investigating this option, the Council has collaborated with the Norse Group, an established public sector joint venture company, to explore the potential for implementing a joint venture model to deliver waste and recycling services in Calderdale.
Cabinet members will be requested to endorse further exploration of an arrangement with the Norse Group, including establishing a timeline for implementation. This proposal will subsequently be presented at a future Cabinet meeting.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, Cllr Jenny Lynn, said; “We’re proud of our waste and recycling record, with the efforts of residents and the increased range of materials collected at kerbside, resulting in consistently high recycling rates and low levels of contamination.
“As we look towards the end of our current waste and recycling contract, it’s important that we can continue to keep up this high level of performance, but also recognise the current challenges faced by the waste industry and deliver good value for money.
“We’ll consider a number of options for the future of the service and note the report recommendation of further exploring the possibility of entering into a joint venture arrangement.”
