'VERDANT HELPED OUR FOUR STAR SUCCESS’, SAYS WALTHAM FOREST

Sevenoaks, Kent, 8th October 2008 – Municipal recycling and waste services specialist Verdant has been complimented by the London Borough of Waltham Forest for its part in helping the council secure a top rating in the Audit Commission’s Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) for 2007.

The CPA found that Waltham Forest’s delivery of services last year warranted a four star rating, the top possible. In 2002, Waltham Forest was a zero star council and is the only local authority to have gone from no stars to four stars.

Councillor Bob Belam, Waltham Forest’s executive member for the environment, said that the quality of Verdant’s recycling and waste collection services played an important part in the CPA rating.

“Together, we faced big challenges to improve Waltham Forest’s recycling last year,” he explained. “At times, it was tough going, but Verdant’s team stood shoulder to shoulder with the council and with residents as new services were launched. Verdant’s focus on delivering a quality service that was flexible and professional played an important role in our recycling transformation, lifting our 24% rate to over 30%.

”We’ve done very well but we’ve got improvements to make, and Verdant will be working closely with all of us in Waltham Forest to deliver the quality of life laid out in our 20 year Sustainable Community Strategy for the borough.”

Verdant began work on Waltham Forest’s new integrated waste and recycling contract in April 2007. This involved the delivery of services to over 95,000 households, mobilising 55 vehicles and training over 200 staff.

Verdant managing director Roger Edwards added: “Going from zero to hero is an incredible achievement, and everyone in Waltham Forest should feel proud of their part in it. The Verdant team has helped to make a real local difference, and is focused on continuing the service quality that Waltham Forest desires in the future.”

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About Verdant

Verdant Group Plc (www.verdant-group.co.uk), part of the fast-growing, recycling-led Greenstar UK group (www.greenstar.co.uk), provides high quality, efficient recycling, refuse, cleansing and grounds maintenance services for 24 local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland. It makes over 50 million recycling and refuse collections annually from nearly 800,000 households, and employs over 1,300 staff operating with 500+ vehicles. Hundreds of staff are participating in a government-backed skills and awareness training programme which leads to a recognised vocational qualification. Verdant’s Arun Green Waste Club in West Sussex won Best Partnership Project at the 2007 National Recycling Awards, and Verdant also won the Best Commitment to Health & Safety category of the 2005 National Recycling Awards.

For further media information, contact:

Blair Drummond, Verdant PR consultant – tel (m) 07798 686 217, email blair.drummond@btopenworld.com