New chapter for Hertfordshire’s recycling centres

Hertfordshire’s 17 recycling centres entered a new chapter this month as Hertfordshire County Council takes on direct responsibility for their management.

Around 70 staff who currently work at the centres are now directly employed by the county council as part of the council’s wider waste management team.

Terry Hone, cabinet member for waste management, said: “We’ve got big ambitions for our recycling centres, and we’re already making significant investments in the network, such as the new centre at Ware due to open on 31 October and one planned for Welwyn Garden City.

“Taking on the direct management of the centres means that we can continue to improve the centres and ensure a good-quality, cost-effective recycling service is in place across the county.”

The existing sites will continue to operate in the same way and accept the same materials, 14 of the 17 centres are currently operational during COVID-19 restrictions, with one – Ware – closed for redevelopment.

Earlier this year, councillors agreed to a proposal to end the existing management contract with Amey early and bring the service in-house.

The eight and a half year contract was due to run to March 2023, but since the contract was signed in 2014, reductions in the commercial recycling market have meant that the business was no longer viable for Amey.

Zak Houlahan, business director for Amey, said: “We are proud to have managed Hertfordshire County Council’s household waste recycling centres, and over the past six years have worked together to improve the operational performance and deliver an excellent level of service for our customers.

"I’d like to thank the team for their tremendous commitment to achieving high service standards, especially during the recent changes caused by Covid-19 restrictions, and I wish them all the best for the future.”

All the staff currently who worked for Amey at the centres have been offered the option to transfer to the county council.

You can find details of the locations and opening times of the recycling centres, along with details of the materials they can accept, at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/hwrc.