Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across Rotherham are set to return to in-house operation, giving the Council direct control over the service it provides to residents.
The proposed change would allow greater flexibility over the operation of sites, including opening hours, and the ability to improve reuse and recycling while providing value for money and social value* to residents. Plans will also see the Council maintain its commitment to paying staff the real living wage.
Rotherham Council Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment Cllr Dominic Beck said: “We’re working hard to create a better waste recycling service for the public. When the current household waste recycling centre contract expires we’ll have the opportunity take greater control of the day-to-day running of the centres and bring about significant improvements to the service people are getting now.”
The current Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) contract has been in place since October 2018 and is delivered in partnership with Barnsley and Doncaster Councils. It expires in October 2023.
Results of a recent public consultation show that although residents are largely happy with the current HWRC service, they would most like to see improvements to the materials accepted at site, particularly the acceptance of paint and increasing reuse and repair of items. The other two areas residents would like to see improved are the size of the sites and the opening hours. Returning the service to in-house operation would allow for the greatest capacity to respond to any changes required.
Rotherham Council is considering bringing HWRCs sites back under its control following an initial contract with a private sector service provider to set the services up. Council Cabinet will consider the proposal when it meets on Monday 23 January 2023.
Being a Living Wage employer formally commits the Council to paying its own lowest-paid staff at a rate determined independently and based on the real cost of living as well as working with its contractors to secure the real living wage to employees providing services on behalf of the Council. The rate is currently £10.90 (outside London).
*The Social Value Act requires the Council to secure wider social, economic and environmental benefits when buying services and goods.
