Tough times at Kerbside

SITA UK and community recycler Kerbside (Calderdale) have failed to reach an agreement to work together to deliver Calderdale Council’s recycling services by the beginning of August. As a result, SITA has now taken over the waste and recycling collection contract for the whole of the West Yorkshire borough.

The council awarded the contract to SITA in April and the corporation initially announced its intention to work with Kerbside, which serves 26,000 of Calderdale’s 87,000 households. However, successive rounds of talks failed and Kerbside is currently continuing to offer its services in competition with SITA.

Reacting to the failed discussions, SITA UK’s Municipal Director, David Foster, said: "This is a disappointing outcome for us. We would like to stress that, far from wanting to sideline Kerbside Calderdale, we have been trying to expand their service.

"We have made numerous attempts over recent months to reach an agreement for Kerbside Calderdale to expand their recycling service to cover all 87,000 households across the district (from the current 25,000 properties they serve). However, we have been unable to reach an agreement that would guarantee the service across the district.”

Foster also reiterated SITA’s offer of employment to Kerbside’s workers: "We would like to stress that all members of staff at Kerbside Calderdale have been offered new jobs with us.

"They have worked hard to achieve the service in Calderdale and we hope that they will join us and continue their good work. Those that choose to join us will benefit from the terms and conditions that come from working with SITA UK."

Kerbside’s Chief Executive Paul Brannigan, however, questioned SITA’s approach to the discussions, claiming: "They went to yesterday's meeting not to find a way forward, they went to justify their position."

Kerbside is continuing to offer its collection service in direct competition with SITA; its website explains: “Kerbside (Calderdale) will continue to collect your recycling from the 4th August. This will be done without payment from CMBC. There is no fee for our service, but feel free to make a donation to assist us in continuing to provide community benefits for disadvantaged people.

“You can continue using your black Kerbside box for your recyclable materials, or SITA will eventually be providing you with a green box/bag. Once inside your box, the recycling materials are then owned by Kerbside (a local social enterprise) or SITA (a French corporation). It is your choice who you give your materials to. If you see SITA collectors taking materials from your black Kerbside (Calderdale) box please report this to Kerbside (Calderdale) or the police.”

The contract SITA signed with Calderdale Council requires it to “seek” to work with the voluntary sector and the council’s deputy leader, Councillor Stephen Barnes, for one, is still hopeful that this will work out: "Calderdale Council is confident that SITA will fulfil its obligations to involve social enterprise in its operation and will work with SITA to ensure that this happens."