50% recycling rate aim in new Manchester contract won by Biffa

Manchester City Council has awarded waste management firm Biffa an eight-year contract, beginning in July, to provide household recycling and refuse collections and street cleansing services. As part of the contract Biffa will act as a single contractor to manage both household collections and street cleansing for over 514,000 residents and follows a year-long tender. Collections are currently handled by staff from Enterprise Manchester, a joint venture between the council and Amey, while council workers provide the street services. Around 400 staff from both organisations will transfer to Biffa under their existing employment terms and conditions. By providing single-point management of both services, the contract aims to improve the city’s current recycling rate to around 50% by 2020. Fiona Worrall, Manchester City Council's head of neighbourhood delivery, said: "We took the decision to appoint Biffa as it proposed the best possible, most cost-effective service to meet the future needs of the city and its residents.” Biffa Municipal commercial director Pete Dickson added: "Biffa and the council face a number of challenges as we work together in a true partnership to drive up recycling and to drive down costs. But it’s familiar territory, and we’re confident that Biffa can make a difference." Ownership of Manchester’s recyclables and residual waste will continue to rest with the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA). ### Read more £115m waste & recycling contract extension for Biffa in the Wirral Biffa secures planning permission for 33 MW waste to energy plant in Leicestershire Biffa’s Kent household waste & recycling centre contract worth £5m pa