Arun considers scrapping weekly rubbish collections

That is one of the options to be considered by Arun District Council next week.

The district’s 15-year cleansing services contract with Biffa expires in 2017 and turning to ‘more affordable’ alternate weekly rubbish collections could save more than £448,000 a year on current costs.

Liberal Democrat councillor for Beach ward Dr James Walsh said: “Before the election at the budget speech, the leader pledged to keep weekly collections and was supported by the entire council.

“To come back just weeks after the local elections in which that was assumed to be the case is a disgraceful U-turn which the electorate now don’t have a chance to comment on.”

A report to the cabinet, due to meet on Monday, put forward two shortlisted options from a recent councillors’ seminar.

Option one discusses maintaining weekly waste collections and alternate weekly recycling collections.

Option two proposes alternative weekly waste collection and alternate weekly recycling collections.

Consultants Ricardo-AEA estimate scrapping weekly waste collections would save £7.9million over the proposed ten-year contract period, as compared to option two. Option one would increase current costs by £341,00 per year.

An Arun spokesman said: “The current combined cleansing services contract (which includes recycling, residual waste collections, street cleansing and public convenience services) with Biffa ends on January 31, 2017.

“A report is being considered by Arun District Council Cabinet on July 20, which considers the scope of the new contract, and the retender process.

“The current service to customers provided by Biffa is very good, and it is anticipated that the new contract will address the EU requirement set for local authorities in reaching a target of 50 per cent recycling rate by 2020, while achieving best value for council tax payers.”

The report recommends inviting tenders on option two among a set of other recommendations setting out the scope of the new contract.