Biffa secures second Hampshire refuse contract

Biffa has been awarded a joint recycling and refuse collection contract for East Hampshire District Council and Winchester City Council, as the two authorities look to save £2 million in annual costs by merging their services.


The deal builds on Biffa’s first Hampshire contract which it won in April, after being selected to run Portsmouth City Council’s recycling and waste collection service. Both contracts start in October.

As with Portsmouth, Biffa will work with East Hampshire and Winchester to improve waste diversion through increased recycling.

East Hampshire’s recycling and composting rate for 2009-10 was 34%, while Winchester’s was 41%. Both councils, whose combined household count is close to 100,000, are aiming for a 50% rate by 2020.

Biffa will handle the alternate week collection of recyclables and refuse, the fortnightly collection of garden waste, and collection of clinical waste, bring bank glass, and bulky waste.

For East Hampshire, it will also manage the monthly collection of domestic glass, while the company will also collect commercial waste in Winchester.

Biffa’s share of the 8-year contract, which has an 8-year extension option, is valued at around £32 million. It is expected that 91 staff from current contractors Veolia and Serco will transfer to Biffa prior to contract start.

Biffa’s municipal development director, Pete Dickson, said: “This latest win strengthens Biffa’s presence in and around the south coast. Coming so soon after our Portsmouth success, it shows that we are in tune with the tough challenges facing councils today.”

Maxine Perella

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