Uncertainty over dry recycling in Central Bedfordshire after operators treatment plant fire
A warning has been issued to residents by Central Bedfordshire Council
A fire at a waste operator’s treatment facility has left a local authority facing uncertainty over its dry recycling collections across Central Bedfordshire in the run-up to the festive season.
A warning has been issued to residents by Central Bedfordshire Council, after it was given just a day’s notice that its orange and green lidded bin collections would be suspended.
A Central Bedfordshire councillor is calling for “a significant refund” from the contractor and an explanation as to how it can cancel with just a day’s notice.
CBC confirmed that this was because of issues outside the council’s control, while the local authority can’t collect the recycling if there’s nowhere for it to go. The council has apologised to residents and promised to keep them updated,
In a fresh statement, CBC said: “The contractor that treats our dry recycling had a fire at its treatment facility and it’s wanting to pass the entire extra cost over to the council.
“This would have been the new contract price and added millions of pounds in costs over the remainder of the agreement.
“The contract CBC has protects the local authority in these circumstances and we don’t agree to paying this additional amount. We’re holding the contractor to account for this.
“We’re sourcing alternative solutions, but this isn’t simple. We collect about 20,000 tonnes of recycling a year, so we need a contractor that can take large volumes of such materials at short notice.
“While it’s the contractor’s responsibility to have contingency plans when problems arise to meet its contractual obligations to us, the recycling service is a council service.
“We too have contingencies in place, if an operator fails. We’re part of a framework arrangement with other contractors, and we’re engaging directly with other waste companies to find another firm.
“The decisions the council has taken and is making are in the best interests of residents, both from a service perspective and a financial one.
“We know this is incredibly frustrating,” added the council. “However, we genuinely believe that accepting a short period of disruption instead of placing a significant long-term financial burden on residents is the fairer option.”
CBC has advised residents they can book a slot at their local household waste recycling centre, which will accept cardboard, paper, tins and cans.
Anyone unable to visit these tidy tips is being asked to store recycling items at home until normal collections resume.
Black bin (general rubbish) and food waste collections are continuing as normal across Central Bedfordshire.
Conservative Heath and Reach councillor Mark Versallion posted on social media: “CBC’s chief executive (Marcel Coiffait) emailed to say the disruption will only last for a few days.”
“The council can’t collect the recycling material because there’s nowhere to drop it off. As orange and green bin are collected fortnightly, most residents will be unaffected hopefully.
“I’ve expressed disappointment and an expectation that CBC should get a significant refund from the contractor. I’ve also asked for an explanation as to how and why the operator can cancel on us with such short notice.”