A new contractor has been appointed to provide waste, recycling and beach cleaning services in Hastings and will replace the existing contractor from the end of June this year.

Existing contractor Keir Environmental Services is ending it’s contract with Hastings Borough Council (HBC) early and the new arrangements have been negotiated by a Joint Waste Partnership that has included Rother and Wealden councils too.

Biffa has been appointed to provide waste and recycling collection services to all households in the borough, HBC will be providing its own in-house street cleaning service.

The appointment of Biffa follows what has been described as a ‘robust procurement project’ conducted by Hastings, Rother and Wealden councils over the last year following a mutually agreed early exit from the current contract with Kier Environmental Services.

Councillor Tony Ganly, chairman of the Joint Waste and Recycling Committee, said: “Collecting household waste and recycling and keeping our streets clean are essential public services and all the councils are delighted that Biffa will be our contracting partner.

“As a specialist waste management company with a long history, Biffa’s company knowledge and experience provides us with confidence they will deliver our residents with an excellent quality of service.”

Simon Baddeley, Biffa Municipal’s Development Director, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded the contract for waste collection and recycling. We’ll be ensuring our brand new fleet will support a seamless handover from the current waste collection provider while continuing to deliver cost-effective services.

“We are excited to be able to use our technology to provide not only a better service for members of the public, but also a safer one for drivers and residents. With the addition of 360-degree cameras to all of our frontline vehicles we will not only keep them safer, but also inspect streets more efficiently while operating the new street cleansing service.”

Under the current contract with Kier Environmental Services, which started in 2013, the nature of the waste and recycling environment has changed enormously.

The councils will work in partnership with the new contractor, Biffa to meet the service requirements expected by residents, employing a flexible approach to meet the challenges of the changing waste environment and legislation.

Waste and recycling collections and street and beach cleaning services are an essential public service provision. While local authorities are still facing significant financial challenges, the appointment of Biffa on a seven year contract is welcomed by the councils.

At its most recent full council meeting members of HBC discussed the award of a the new contract. Although members were still unable to name the new contractor in public it was pointed out to the meeting that waste collection is the single biggest function HBC performs.