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SITA UK Wins Devon Household Recycling Contract

21 February 2012

Devon County Council has awarded a contract to leading recycling and resource management company SITA UK, to run 17 of its 19 household waste recycling centres

Following a competitive tendering process, the new five-year contract will begin on 1 May and will include the option of a four-year extension period.

SITA UK currently manages the county's flagship recycling centre at Pinbrook Road in Exeter, which has the highest recycling rate of any centre in the county at 85 percent. The County Council is looking to emulate that success across all of its recycling centres across Devon, which in 2010/11 recycled 74 percent of waste.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council cabinet member for environment, community and planning, said: "This is a positive announcement for Devon and we're pleased to have SITA UK on board. Based on the company's impressive track record at our centre at Pinbrook, we will be keen for the whole county to benefit from the same level of service it has been providing in Exeter. Where space allows, other centres in Devon will be able to accept more types of waste for recycling, such as carpets, mattresses and bulky plastics (eg garden furniture, childrens toys), so that more items than ever can be recycled and diverted from landfill. The re-sale areas at larger centres will also offer an improved experience. The new contract includes targets which we will be keen for SITA UK to meet, so we will expect recycling rates at our centres to reach new record levels."

The 17 centres, which SITA UK will operate on behalf of the County Council, currently handle around 85,000 tonnes of recycling each year.

James Pike, processing general manager, SW at SITA UK, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside Devon County Council and we look forward to sharing our expertise in recycling for the benefit of local residents. There is a lot of hard work ahead as we look to improve existing arrangements wherever possible, striving to make best use of each and every recycling centre, with an overriding focus on customer service. We will also look to develop complementary services in the area by investing in a materials recycling facility in Exeter, and a drive to increase our commercial collections from local businesses."

www.sita.co.uk

Darrel Moore