Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) is celebrating the first anniversary of its new waste and recycling service, delivered since the end of 2024 by its wholly owned Teckal company, Terra Verde Services Ltd (TVS), alongside the completion of the build of its new permanent operations hub at North Weald Airfield, which is now fully operational.
TVS was established by EFDC to deliver frontline environmental services on the Council’s behalf, combining public sector oversight with a dedicated operational focus, enabling the Council to retain strategic control while benefiting from a flexible, commercially aware delivery model.
The first year of operation has been very successful as James Warwick, Service Director, Contracts, Partnerships & Procurement, EFDC explains:
“It’s been a great first year. We have hit all the deadlines, which included setting up a temporary workshop, transferring 140 staff into TVS and sourcing a new fleet. The new service schedule went live in November 2024 and performance has been excellent.
“The new operations hub has been well received by staff and features a canteen, showers and ample parking.”
Since the launch of the new service, no disruptions have been reported, and the Council credits its fleet partner, Specialist Fleet Services Ltd (SFS), for helping to achieve this. In May 2024 following a comprehensive tender procurement process SFS was awarded an 8-year contract for the provision and maintenance of a new fleet of 52 waste and recycling vehicles to be housed at the Council’s new environmental operations hub at North Weald Airfield.
James added: “The collaborative relationship with SFS and TVS has been pivotal to enabling us to deliver the new service in an efficient, sustainable and professional way. SFS has extensive experience in municipal fleet and workshop provision, and they have left no stone unturned to fully understand the operational challenges we face.”
Rosa Tanfield, Managing Director, TVS commented: “SFS ensured that all the vehicles were in place ahead of the start date and it is testament to their high standards that our service has not been affected by vehicles being off-road.”
During this first year SFS also helped EFDC meet the 31 March deadline for the launch of a dedicated food waste collection service, ‘pulling out the stops’ to deliver a fleet of waste collection vehicles.
SFS has over 30-years’ experience running workshops, for councils as well as its own facilities, and currently operates a network of 15 depots across the UK.
Bob Sweetland, Managing Director, SFS, said:
“Workshops are an area where we can make a big difference in terms of cost savings. Whether it’s the move to lower emission technologies or the introduction of mandatory food waste collections, we can provide access to potentially expensive new vehicle technologies, whilst removing the need to maintain replace or dispose of vehicles as well as taking care of the recruitment and training of staff.”
SFS has been delivering fleet and workshop management solutions to local authorities for over 30 years. The company operates its own specialist short-term hire division, CTS Hire, and a network of 15 workshops across the UK with plans for continued expansion.
For more information about Specialist Fleet Services tel: 01604 234601; email [email protected].
ENDS.
