VERDANT WINS SOUTH OXFORDSHIRE GREEN WASTE RECYCLING CONTRACT

Sevenoaks, Kent, 17 May 2006

Leading independent municipal services contractor Verdant Group plc today announced that it has been appointed as preferred contractor by South Oxfordshire District Council to provide a new green waste recycling scheme for borough residents for an initial three-year period.

The new service, which replaces an eco-sack scheme, is based on fortnightly collection from green waste-dedicated wheelie bins and starts on June 5. The first wave of the new service, which only costs subscribing residents 55p a week (roughly equivalent to a daily newspaper or a can of soft drink), will initially be delivered to the first 4,000 householders signing up during May. The Council will then extend the green waste scheme to more of the district’s 55,000 households.

Collected green waste, such as grass clippings, branches, weeds, leaves and hedge trimmings, will be delivered by Verdant’s team to a composting facility run by Agrivert near Wallingford. Compost produced will be used to improve local farmland.

Verdant believes the initial phase of the South Oxfordshire scheme could make an important contribution to improving the council’s recycling rate, reducing waste going to landfill, and supporting a sustainable local composting service.

Verdant operates a similar and highly successful Green Waste Club scheme for Arun District Council in West Sussex, where over 6,000 club members helped recycle some 2,000 tonnes of green waste in the its first year of operation.

Roger Edwards, development director of Verdant, said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership with South Oxfordshire District Council and its residents on implementing the new green waste scheme, and making it successful. We know how to deliver an efficient, flexible service that becomes an integral part of residents’ daily lives. People are becoming more attuned to doing their bit for the environment, and we’re confident that residents will help the new scheme make a meaningful contribution.”

David Dodds, South Oxfordshire’s Cabinet Member responsible for waste management, added: “Verdant’s people impressed everyone throughout the selection process with their professionalism and commitment to customer care. I look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with them.”