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Residents are set to continue to benefit from weekly bin collections as cabinet is recommended to approve the procurement process for a weekly waste and recycling service, ahead of the current contract coming to an end.

The Royal Borough’s waste management partner Veolia will continue to deliver weekly waste and recycling services in the borough until summer 2019 under an extended contract, if the proposals are agreed.

Cabinet was asked on 26th April to begin the retendering process for a new weekly waste and recycling contract to start when the proposed extension comes to an end next summer.

The plans will see no significant changes to the weekly service residents currently receive. In addition, approval is needed to extend the Greenredeem contract, the council’s recycling rewards scheme.

The Royal Borough is among the 25 percent of councils in the country who still provide weekly bin collections.

Cllr Jesse Grey, cabinet member for environmental services (inc. parking and flooding), said: “We are committed to maintaining high quality, weekly bin collections for residents and this proposed contract extension will ensure residents continue to benefit from this weekly service.

“The proposed new contract and the interim extension with Veolia both seek to continue to deliver that excellent service to residents.

“The collection crews and staff at the Stafferton Way tip do an amazing job in making sure our bins are emptied and rubbish is disposed of in the most efficient and environmentally-friendly way.

“Continuing with Greenredeem, also shows our commitment to our community and helping residents to recycle and reuse as much as they can.

“There are plans to change the way Greenredeem recycling points are collected but still maintaining the existing incentives for recycling.”

The current contract with Veolia has been in place for 14 years. An extension until next summer is being sought to give the current unstable recycling market time to settle down following recent changes in China’s restrictions on importing recycling.

By waiting and allowing the market to settle it is hoped the Royal Borough will be able to get a good price for the new contract next year.

The contract includes management of the transfer station and tip at Stafferton Way, marketing of recyclable materials, provision of new bins and managing recycling points around the borough.