SUEZ and Kirklees Council agree two-year Interim contract

The interim contract with SUEZ means that from 31 March 2022, plastic pots, tubs and trays will be able to join plastic bottles, paper, card, and tins in residents’ recycling bins. Residual (black bag) waste will continue to be sent for energy recovery instead of to landfill. Kirklees Council will also have the option to extend opening times of household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) by one hour during the summer months.

On behalf of Kirklees Council, SUEZ operates the Kirklees energy-from-waste facility, a materials recycling facility (MRF), two waste transfer stations, five HWRCs and manages two closed landfill sites. The MRF is currently being adapted to be able to process a wider range of materials and the recruitment process for the required additional MRF Operatives has already begun.

SUEZ’s Nick Browning said: “We have a long and proud history working with Kirklees Council. We are delighted that by extending our partnership for a further two years, we will be able to recycle even more material and continue to divert the vast majority of Kirklees’s waste away from landfill”

Councillor Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Environment at Kirklees Council, said: “We have ambitious plans for waste management in Kirklees. This is not a simple like for like extension but a new interim arrangement to enable us to start delivering on some of our ambitions from our waste and recycling strategy. This includes bringing in changes to our recycling services due to start at the end of March and also extend opening hours at our Household Waste Recycling Sites throughout the summer months, making it easier still for residents to recycle their waste.

“We look forward to continuing to work with SUEZ in maintaining our improving recycling rates and in providing these improved services.”