Refuse going private
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EXCLUSIVE Cleaning Services, the company which took over Southend's refuse collection service in 1980, is taking over Eastbourne Borough Council's service.
The move, which came in spite of trades union counter-plans to make their existing arrangements more efficient, will cost the council £4m over five years, and will save it about £1.5m. It has already won hearty congratulations for the council from Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who encourages such privatisation.
Dover District Council has sought tenders from private firms with a view to selling off its own-account operation by Christmas, and refuse collection contractor Collins of Northampton has recently offered to take over the trade refuse collection work undertaken by Northampton and Daventry councils.
Director Fred Collins told Daventry: "I hope to be allowed to prove that small firms can operate a more efficient refuse collection. The dustmen do a good job. The more responsive and flexible set up of the small firm will allow them to do a better one."
Meantime, the Freight Transport Association has carried out a one-off study of the operating costs, including capital costs, of refuse collection vehicles for its local authority members.