In line with a trend towards working together in local government, an approach favoured by the outgoing Coalition government, councils in Surrey are working on a joint collection contract.

The authorities are set to launch a tender for one of the largest contracts of its type ever issued as it will have a total value of £100 million over 8-10 years and cover four local authorities in rural and urban areas.

The councils consider that they could save up to £10 million over the initial contract period. The specification involves alternate weekly collections of commingled dry recycling and residual waste, in addition to weekly food waste collections – essentially the service already operated by the four waste collection authorities.

The Draft Service Specification for the contract has therefore been based on a commingled kerbside waste and recycling alternate weekly collection (with food waste weekly) as is the current practice in Woking.