Member Article

New waste and recycling contract announced

Two of Cumbria’s leading waste management companies have entered into a ten-year contract to manage Cumbria County Council’s network of household waste recycling centres (“HWRCs”) across the county.

The amount of waste recycled or reused at the 14 centres, which receive waste from members of the public, has increased to over 70% since Cumbria Waste Management Limited (part of the Cumbria Waste Group) began managing the sites on behalf of Shanks Waste Management Limited five years ago.

This has prompted the two companies to enter into a new, longer-term contract, for the next decade.

Commenting, Nick Blake, Contract Director of Shanks Cumbria, said: “I’m delighted that Cumbria Waste Group will continue to operate the sites. Our two companies have formed a strong partnership over the past five years which has led to a significant increase in the percentage of waste recycled.

“When we started in 2009 these sites recycled or reused an average of 60% and now they are averaging 70.6%.”

Mike Bareham, Managing Director of Cumbria Waste Group, said “This long term contract gives us a firm foundation upon which to plan for the future. As a Cumbrian company it was important to us to retain this key contract so we can continue to provide excellent service to the public across our county.

“Over the lifetime of this contract we will recycle domestic waste weighing the same as five aircraft carriers, so it’s a huge task but one that the excellent partnership we have forged with Shanks will enable us to meet.

“This major contract is a big step forward for a local business and will secure jobs and ensure continuity of service at the HWRCs.”

The 14 HWRCs are at Ambleside, Barrow, Carlisle, Brampton, Workington, Frizington, Grange-over-Sands, near Penrith, Kendal, Kirkby Stephen, Maryport, Millom, Wigton, Ulverston.

Over 50,000 tonnes of waste were taken to HWRCs in Cumbria last year, of which more than 70% was recycled or reused. A total of 75 staff are employed in providing the service.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Neil Shaefer .