Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has announced that Specialist Fleet Services Ltd (SFS) has won the contract to provide 75 vehicles for its new weekly collection service, called Simply Weekly Recycling, due to be rolled out this Spring.
The 10-year contract (with the option to extend for 10 years) comprises the provision of 12 Refuse Collection Vehicles (RCV’s), along with minibuses, tippers, sweepers and grounds maintenance equipment. SFS has been providing fleet services to the Authority for 11 years and under the new contract will continue to manage the council’s workshops as well as the maintenance of the vehicles.
Jon Sharpe, Transport & Waste Services Manager, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council:
“We needed a new fleet to fit the new service and SFS won the tender based on a combination of quality and service. Although we are increasing the frequency of collections we are reducing our costs because we are now able to standardise the type of vehicle we use. Whereas we used to operate three different kinds of vehicle including specialist kerbside recycling vehicles, we will now have a completely multi-functional fleet. That means everyone has the same training and when a vehicle breaks down we can easily replace it with another one from the fleet.”
The new weekly collection service is being rolled out to households in the borough in May and June this year and will include co-mingled dry recycling, glass, food waste and general refuse. Garden waste will continue to be collected fortnightly. The Authority hopes that the move will increase recycling rates from the current level of 46% to over 53%.
Jon Sharpe continued: “We are delighted with the bid from SFS and, although it is incidental that they have supplied us with fleet services for 11 years, it is fortuitous that the lines of administration and communication are already in place. They are very knowledgeable about fleet management and specialise in helping councils like us.”
Bob Sweetland, Managing Director, SFS said: “Winning this tender is great news and we are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with the Authority. We understand their business and, as with all of our customers, we work hard to make sure they get maximum value out of their fleet. We look forward to ensuring a smooth roll-out of their new service.”
For more information about Specialist Fleet Services tel: 01604 234601 or email: [email protected]
ENDS. February 2017
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