Merton (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The Merton council has awarded a new eight-year contract to the resource management company Veolia, which will provide maintenance services from April 2025.
Environmental services organization will also offer the city residents recycling, trash picking and winter maintenance.
In order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, Merton Council will focus on improving recycling and providing more sustainable services.
What measures will be taken by Veolia for operational efficiency?
Single-cabin garbage collection vehicles, known as Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCVs), will improve operating efficiency and increase recycling capability by enabling collections to be completed.
Hydrotreated vegetable oil and other alternative fuels, such as biofuels to help reduce carbon emissions, will also be investigated by Veolia and Merton Council.
Food trash collections will be tried at apartments above stores to promote improved recycling access and compliance with impending Simpler Recycling regulation changes.
Veolia will continue to provide these houses with nighttime recycling and rubbish collection services, which were introduced in 2023 to contribute to better street cleaning. In order to provide people with specialized services, Veolia will also run a community mobile recycling hub on weekends.
Which campaigns will be delivered by the Veolia team to support recycling?
The Education, Outreach, and Communications team of Veolia will conduct trash limiting initiatives throughout the borough and run communications campaigns encouraging citizens to recycle more, especially from apartments.
Prioritizing community investment will be achieved through the growth of Veolia’s Orchard and Sustainability Fund programs, as well as social value commitments that emphasize job opportunities for locals and people from underprivileged backgrounds.
Pascal Hauret, managing director of Municipal at Veolia, stated: “Building on our experience, we will work closely with the council to develop collection services whilst supporting them on their journey to net zero by decarbonising our operations. We are looking forward to working in partnership with Merton Council towards a more sustainable future that will benefit residents across the borough.”
Councillor Stephen Alambritis, cabinet member for transport and cleaner streets, added: “We made a promise that we would review the existing street cleaning and waste services and listen to the thousands of residents who told us what they want to see going forward…
We look forward to the enhancements secured in our new contract with Veolia and to working together to deliver a reliable collections service for the people of Merton.”
Can Merton’s New Deal with Veolia Improve Cleanliness?
A major change in the borough’s approach to trash management and street cleaning has occurred with the recent signing of an eight-year garbage and recycling agreement between Merton Council and Veolia.
The current agreement with Veolia, which has been in effect since April 2017 as part of the South London Waste Partnership, was carefully examined before this decision was made. The present contract, which is scheduled to end in March 2025, has drawn criticism for falling short of citizens’ expectations for cleanliness and care.
The initial agreement with Veolia was made to offer recycling, street cleaning, and rubbish collection services throughout Merton. Residents have, however, expressed increasing dissatisfaction with the quality of the services over time.
Complaints have been lodged against the borough’s safety due to complaints about overflowing trash cans, uncoordinated street cleaning, and litter accumulation.
Veolia’s current contract was cancelled by Merton Council in October 2022, as announced by the council last year.
A new eight-year deal seeks to ease concerns by prioritizing improved service delivery and environmental sustainability. Provisions for increased recycling rates and more effective waste-collecting techniques are included in the agreement.
With this new collaboration with Veolia, Merton hopes to advance sustainable waste management techniques throughout the borough, boost recycling initiatives, and improve local cleanliness.
🚮 Big changes are coming to Merton's street cleaning and waste collection services from April 2025.
— Merton Council (@Merton_Council) January 9, 2025
We listened to your feedback, and from April 2025, there will be significant improvements to the service.
Learn more 👉 https://t.co/X5Jm6hLXtV#CleanerMerton #CleanerGreener pic.twitter.com/djw6SWollE