Council leaders have welcomed a new multi-million-pound waste and street cleaning contract that guarantees fortnightly rubbish collections and introduces kerbside glass recycling to Tendring for the first time.
Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Cabinet approved a new three-year contract, with an option to extend for up to two years, at its meeting on Friday, 14 November.
It means that from April next year, residents will benefit from an improved waste and recycling system delivered by Veolia – with glass and wider plastic recycling introduced from October 2026.
Under the new deal, fortnightly rubbish collections will continue for households with wheelie bins, while those on the black sack service will still receive weekly collections.
Kerbside glass recycling will be added to the existing dry mixed recycling service from October 2026, along with a wider range of plastic materials making it easier for residents to recycle more materials from home.
Weekly food waste collections will also be expanded to cover more properties from April 2026, including flats, and street cleaning standards will remain at least equivalent to those currently provided.
Councillor Adrian Smith, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Environment, welcomed the decision, which follows on from a complex procurement exercise undertaken over the past 18 months.
“We promised residents that fortnightly collections would stay, and we’re delivering on that commitment while going further by introducing kerbside glass recycling, adding to the range of plastics and expanding food waste collections,” he said.
“These improvements will make recycling simpler and help everyone do their bit for the planet and our local environment.
“This contract isn’t just about bins – it’s about pride in our area and the services people rely on every day, which is why street cleaning will remain at a good standard as part of this deal.”
Council leader Mark Stephenson said the new contract has been carefully managed to protect other essential services.
“Even in challenging financial times, we’ve worked hard to keep this service affordable while meeting new environmental obligations,” said Councillor Stephenson.
“This is the council’s largest contract, so securing funding while safeguarding frontline services has been a top priority.
“We’re working closely with Veolia to make the rollout as smooth as possible. Our focus is on keeping residents informed, and every household will be contacted well in advance so everyone knows what’s changing and when.”
Initially planned as an eight-year contract, a decision was made last summer to shorten it to three years following the government’s announcement of its Local Government Reorganisation programme, which is expected to see TDC replaced by a new unitary authority within three years.
The new £30 million contract will cost almost £7.8 million more than the existing waste budget over its three-year term, reflecting expected annual cost increases since the last contract was signed and the additional expense of the new services required under the Environment Act 2021.
Thanks to prudent planning, more than £2.4 million has already been set aside, and £4.9 million will come from existing council funds – including uncommitted New Homes Bonus and the Corporate Investment Fund – without cutting other essential services.
