Following the formal decision by Surrey Heath Borough Council, Elmbridge Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council and Woking Borough Council to begin the procurement process for a new recycling, waste collection, and street cleaning operator, Portfolio Holder for Net Zero, Environment & Leisure, Cllr Morgan Rise, said:
“Our focus is on delivering high-quality, cost-effective services that not only provide the best possible outcomes for our residents but also protect our environment and ensure long-term financial sustainability. When it comes to collecting the bins residents expect a service that works in their interests, and that is what will continue to be at the heart of my decision-making.
"With all joint partner councils now ratifying the decision, I’m delighted that we can take the next step in the procurement process bringing us closer to securing the best solutions that balance efficiency, sustainability, and value for money all while delivering the best service possible for residents.”
Joint Waste Solutions News Release
Procurement of Joint Waste Collection Service Contract
Thursday 6 March 2025
A decision on starting the procurement of a new recycling and waste collection and street cleaning operator has been formally ratified by Elmbridge Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council and Woking Borough Council.
Since 2017, the four Surrey district and borough councils have been involved in a joint contract for recycling, waste collection and street cleaning services with Amey LG Limited. The joint contract, which is managed by a shared team Joint Waste Solutions (JWS), expires in June 2027.
Having considered the options over the last few weeks, all four district and borough councils have formally agreed to continue working in partnership and procure a new joint contract for recycling and waste collection services and optionally, street cleaning. The appointed new contractor will need to include measures in their bid that maximise recycling and service reliability and reduce residual waste in rubbish bins.
Cllr Ashley Tilling, Chair of the Joint Waste Collection Services Committee said, “We will shortly start procuring the services of a new operator to carry out waste collection and street cleaning in the borough. This new contract will start in July 2027. The quality of our waste collection service remains of utmost importance to us and we will be working on sourcing the best solution, offering residents value for money while maximising reliability, encouraging recycling and reducing waste to lessen the impact on the environment. We will keep residents informed in our progress to find a suitable operator”.
The procurement process will begin in March to allow for the necessary legal and other considerations ahead of appointing a new provider by June 2026. This will allow for a 12-month period to prepare for mobilisation in June 2027.
JWS plans to publish the tender notice mid-May this year, following preliminary market engagement and the development of a procurement strategy and associated tender documentation.
Updates on the development of the project will be shared regularly with residents via the four councils’ communications channels.