Bournemouth and Poole councils have struck a new recycling management deal that will save the taxpayer almost £1.3 million a year.
The councils managed to secure a better deal with existing waste management company, Viridor, the savings have been attributed to the rising value of recycled materials.
Annually, the deal will save Bournemouth more than £800,000 and Poole £480,000 and it will last until 2014. Cllr Xena Dion, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for the Environment, Borough of Poole said: “This is a clear demonstration of how the Councils work hard on behalf of local residents to get the best value for money.
“Residents can now help protect council services and the environment by recycling their paper, cans, plastics and tetra packs at the kerbside.”
Recycling doesn’t just save the taxpayer money through the income it provides, it also cuts down on spending. Viridor South West Regional Director, Richard Jenkins said: “Landfill tax is going up every year, putting additional costs on waste management. This means that, as well as the environmental benefit, increasing recycling can also help local authorities and businesses save money.”
Councillor Michael Filer, portfolio holder for Transport and Technical Services at Bournemouth Borough Council, said: “This is a magnificent saving for the Council. At a time of Government cutbacks savings of this magnitude are absolutely vital in meeting our targets for efficiencies.
“The more waste we can divert from landfill the more we will save. I would urge everyone to recycle more and waste less!”
The new deal comes into effect in April.
