Free small item collections, more street trees and a dedicated parks maintenance service are among the changes you can expect to see later this year as Brent’s Cabinet award three new contracts today (16 January).
The first of these was Brent’s waste and recycling contract, which has been managed by Veolia since 2014. The council spoke to lots of different suppliers to get the best deal for residents that will also help to fight against climate change, with Veolia winning the contract.
While you will continue to see the familiar faces of your hardworking waste and recycling and street cleaning teams, there will be some important changes that will be in place from March this year.
These changes, made following feedback from hundreds of residents and a 6 week long recycling trial, will help the council make important savings and increase recycling rates.
They include a free, bookable small items collection service for residents wanting to recycle small items, like batteries, textiles, paint and coffee pods which will be available from April 2024.
Local people will also benefit from a quicker and more targeted approach to street cleansing, a ‘clear as you go’ approach to illegally dumped rubbish and fly-tipping and changes to how recycling is collected, which will mean residents will be able to ensure more materials are recycled by splitting up recycling into two separate containers collected on alternating weeks.
Councillor Krupa Sheth, Brent’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action, said: “These changes will help make sure we can continue to provide an efficient waste and recycling service to Brent residents, and is also set to increase recycling rates too which is vital if we are going to work towards a greener future for future generations.”
Today’s contract awards follow the appointment of Marston Holdings as the council’s parking contractor last year. Brent’s Cabinet also appointed the contractors for two other important services residents rely on.
The protection and improvement of Brent roads and pavements, which will include filling in potholes, will be managed by the O’Hara Brothers and GW Highways Ltd. Having two contractors sharing some responsibility of our roads will mean greater awareness of issues and quicker response times.