Viridor and Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) have agreed a nine-year, £80 million extension of their comprehensive waste management contract to 2031.
Somerset Waste Partnership manages household waste services on behalf of Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset district councils, Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and West Somerset Council.
The initial 16-year contract with Viridor, which ran from May 2006 to March 2022, included a nine-year extension option. This is now being executed with the extension to 2031.
The contract relates to household waste recycling centre operations (including household hazardous waste collection, storage and disposal), composting, the operation of delivery points and transportation of waste.
The provision of landfilled waste changes in 2020, with the completion of Viridor’s £252m Avonmouth Resource Recovery Centre, when non-recyclable waste will move to energy recovery.
“The contract extension acknowledges the pressures austerity has brought to local government, while recognising the significant ambitions the Somerset Waste Partnership has to maximise its recycling opportunities.”
The Avonmouth plant will generate up to 32MW of electricity which will power the facility itself and export enough energy to power around 44,000 homes.
Viridor Head of Contracts Patrick Murray said Viridor was pleased to have agreed the contract extension with SWP, continuing the company’s relationship with the partnership.
“The contract extension acknowledges the pressures austerity has brought to local government, while recognising the significant ambitions the Somerset Waste Partnership has to maximise its recycling opportunities. This ambition reflects the desire of Somerset residents to become more resource efficient and to prioritise reuse over disposal.
“We are pleased to have been able to continue our history of being a trusted partner committed to innovation and collaboration. This is reflected in a commitment to recycling plastic pots, tubs and trays and the revised recycling centre hours, which both demonstrate that SWP and Viridor have listened to residents’ wishes.”
SWP Managing Director Mickey Green said: “We’re delighted to be able to extend our strong partnership with Viridor in a way which meets residents’ needs and continues to deliver excellent environmental performance, whilst addressing the financial challenges that local government faces.”
SWP Chairman Cllr Derek Yeomans said: “Working with Viridor is enabling us to keep all 16 recycling sites open and amend their opening hours to better reflect what the local community needs.”