Waste and recycling services will continue to contribute to Kingston’s climate ambitions and deliver value for money
Kingston Council is inviting suppliers to provide waste and recycling solutions that offer good value for money and improve the sustainability of the service.
The borough currently has one of the best recycling rates in London - 3rd highest in London in 2020/21. Satisfaction is consistently high with over 80% of residents saying they are happy with their waste and recycling services in a recent survey and the council is committed to raising this even higher. Waste analysis has shown that there is scope to improve recycling rates even further as more of what currently ends up in rubbish bins could be recycled.
The council’s Place Committee (20 June) agreed the procurement route for new waste and recycling services, which will start in April 2025. This will enable the borough to look at opportunities to make the services even better.
The current contract with Veolia ends on 31 March 2025 and is held jointly with neighbouring boroughs Merton, Croydon and Sutton as part of the South London Waste Partnership (SLWP). Following an options appraisal and after legal advice, the boroughs in the partnership decided not to extend the current joint arrangement.
The innovative joint contract has delivered substantial cost savings as well as increased recycling rates. Kingston will now build on this progress and develop local priorities to respond to the borough’s changing needs. A regional approach led by SLWP will remain in place for waste and recycling handling, transfer and treatment.
In the recent survey, residents said environmental benefits around carbon reduction and increased recycling mattered most to them, followed by ease of use of the services and affordability for the council. Resident feedback is valued and is being actioned.
Potential improvements around things such as carbon reduction, increasing recycling rates, particularly in flats, and improving how easy it is to report when things go wrong will be explored with bidders during the tender process, and the council will gather feedback from residents to help shape the final contract requirements.