Urbaser Ltd has been awarded an eight year contract to operate within the two boroughs and is set to begin its operation in stages from March next year.
Glass will now be collected in an alternate fortnightly collection of mixed dry recyclables, including plastics, cans and cartons, in a wheeled bin with a separate container for paper and card.
However, the new service will introduce stricter criteria on waste collection, with non-recyclable rubbish only collected fortnightly and food waste collected separately.
The separate fortnightly collection of garden waste will now come with an annual fee of £52, a charge the councils claim is necessary to offer its improved kerbside services but which critics have dubbed ‘a stealth tax’.
Urbaser Ltd will service 101,000 homes throughout the two districts which have shared waste collection services for several years as they seek more efficient and cost effective ways of delivering services.
Full financial details of the contract have yet to be released.
Cllr Ronen Basu, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Sustainability, said: “Before appointing Urbaser we carried out a rigorous procurement exercise over a number of months. The criteria we used in selecting Urbaser ensures residents are given a high quality service that offers value for money and introduces new elements to the service that we know households will benefit from.”
Cllr David Lettington, Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment Services, said the authority was ‘very pleased’ with the procurement process and is ‘delighted’ to be working with Urbaser ltd.
Managing Director of Urbaser Ltd, Javier Peiro said the company is committed to providing its clients with value for money and excellent service levels.
A council spokesman said residents will be kept fully informed and further announcements regarding the start of the new service will be made in the coming months.
