Harrogate Borough Council has signed a substantial contract with Northallerton-based Yorwaste to process the recycling collected by the council. The contract is expected to generate significant revenue for the council, and was procured jointly with three other councils in North Yorkshire.
All recyclable waste – other than garden waste – will be processed by Yorwaste, who have guaranteed both the price the council can expect for the next three years and the destination market.
Councillor Michael Harrison, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:
The increased revenue that this contract will bring the council is very welcome at a time when local authority budgets are under severe pressure. Much of the recyclable material will be processed locally, and the agreement caters for the planned expansion of our service later this year to include card and plastic bottles. The contract is particularly competitive as it was procured jointly with other councils in the county as part of the York and North Yorkshire Waste Partnership.
Each year, Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate and Richmondshire District Councils collect over 31,000 tonnes of glass, cans, card and paper. Entering into this single contract will enable the four councils to consolidate their existing contractual and operational services.
Tim Reay, Yorwaste Divisional Director, said:
The quality of our recycling operations means we are able to maximise the value of the recyclables we process on behalf of our customers, and working with Harrogate Borough Council, we are confident of being able to help the authority meet its waste reduction and recycling targets.
All councils have national targets for waste reduction and recycling improvements.
We should all recycle, whether it’s just a small amount, councils should be pushing and finding more companies to recycle.