Wiltshire Council is forming two new council-owned companies to manage waste and recycling services, a move designed to make operations more sustainable, more flexible, and more locally controlled. The council says this change does not affect plans to close household recycling centres in north Wiltshire, including Lower Compton.
The new public-to-public Local Authority Trading Companies (LATCos) will be responsible for key parts of the county’s waste operation: Ubico Ltd, an environmental services company already operating in Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire, will deliver doorstep waste and recycling collections, while Norse Group, a national council-owned trading company, will manage the materials recovery facility (MRF) where recyclables are sorted before reuse.
Cllr Paul Sample, cabinet member for environment, climate and waste, stressed the separation from household recycling centres.
“Norse Group is Britain’s largest local authority trading company, partnering with numerous local authorities across the country in joint venture models. Wiltshire Council chose Norse to handle its MRF arrangements to deliver a cost-efficient, flexible, and environmentally responsive waste service, with tangible benefits for staff, residents, and sustainability objectives,” he said.
“It’s important to note that these MRF arrangements are entirely separate from Household Recycling Centres (HRC). Wiltshire Council will be closing the two Hills-operated HRC sites in the north of the county this August, and plans are being developed for a new site in the north within the next few years.”
Wiltshire Council Leader and Calne Town Mayor, Ian Thorn added further clarity on how the LATCos will operate.
“There are a number of waste contracts that have come up for renewal. Norse is helping with one of two local authority trading companies that will be delivering two of the contracts. One covers doorstep collections and one the recycling centre on the Hills site at Lower Compton. Neither are linked to the HRC contracts.”
“We will form a new company with Norse - something they have done with a number of other councils and all of the activities in Wiltshire will be delivered in Wiltshire. There won’t be any travelling from Norfolk.”
Beth Boughton, Managing Director at Ubico, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to deliver waste and recycling collection services in Wiltshire and are looking forward to working in partnership with Wiltshire Council as our newest shareholder. The addition of Wiltshire's services will see our workforce grow to around 1,300 people.”
Justin Galliford, Chief Executive of Norse Group, added: “We’ll combine national expertise with local insight to focus on achieving strong environmental outcomes while delivering a service the community can rely on.”
Eight of Wiltshire’s household recycling centres are operated by FCC Environment, the company that runs most of the county’s recycling sites, with Lower Compton and Purton currently run by Hills Waste Solutions. Both sites are due to close this August, with plans in development for a replacement site in north Wiltshire in the coming years.
Residents and campaigners have expressed concern about increased travel distances, fly-tipping, and pressure on remaining sites, but the council says the LATCos will not affect these closures.
*Image Wiltshire County Council
Related article: Residents and Councillors raise concerns over Lower Compton Closure
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