William Eichler 08 April 2019

Council pays £1.75m in compensation to recycling contractor

Milton Keynes Council has reached a settlement with the contractor Viridor to cover what the local authority describes as the ‘historic costs’ of contamination in its recycling sacks.

Viridor processes the council’s recycling at the authority’s materials recovery facility and sells any materials that can be recovered and reused.

However, around one in four sacks in Milton Keynes are contaminated by dirty nappies, pet waste and food, which means they cannot be recycled or sold.

This is higher than the tolerance for contamination built into the recycling contract and so the council has agreed to compensate Viridor with £1.75m. This covers the cost of processing contaminated waste between 2013 and 2019.

The council has warned that if contamination levels continue at their current levels, it will cost ‘hundreds of thousands of pounds’ every year in penalty fees.

A spokesperson for Viridor said: 'Viridor is pleased to have resolved this issue and looks forward to working with the council to reduce contamination and maximise efforts to boost recycling, putting valuable resources back into the UK economy.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Passenger Assistant

North Yorkshire Council
£24,796 - £25,989 per annum pro rata
The team delivers approximately 250,000 passenger journeys per year including 20,000 wheelchair user journeys. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Corporate Director – Adults & Health

Newham London Borough Council
£170,601 - £189,924
Lead Change. Shape Lives. Be Part of Something New. Newham, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Newham London Borough Council

Assistant Director, People

Essex County Council
£89,116 - £104,843 per annum
Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. England, Essex, Chelmsford / Hybrid
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Swimming Instructor

North Yorkshire Council
£15.06 - £16.35 per hour
We are looking for dedicated and enthusiastic Level 2 Swim Teachers to join our leisure centre. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Housing Hub officer

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band D, SCP 9 -17 (£27,254- £31,022 per annum)
Have you got a passion for giving excellent customer service? Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Linkedin Banner