New waste contract to save taxpayers £2.8 million

The new contract will see a number of changes during 2014 which will improve the service for Crawley residents, says the council.

It has bought its own fleet of collection vehicles which will be better value for money than if the contractor provided them.

The new vehicles were chosen for their significantly lower emissions, quieter bin lifts and smaller turning circles which will enable them to have better access in certain parts of the town.

New technology in the vehicles and offices will be introduced over the coming months to provide much quicker exchange of information to keep the service running smoothly.

Thanks to a government grant, nearly all Crawley households will receive a free wheeled bin for their rubbish. The new bins can be attached to refuse vehicles for easier collections and will keep streets cleaner and tidier.

Delivery of the bins will take place in June, July and September; the month you receive it depends on your normal collection day:

- Residents with Monday collections will receive their bins in June

- Residents with Tuesday or Wednesday collections will receive their bins in July

- Residents with Thursday or Friday collections will receive their bins in September.

Details and dates will be provided nearer the time.

Run-down household batteries, old textiles and unwanted small electrical items will soon be able to be collected and recycled from nearly all Crawley households. This will be in addition to, but separate from, REDtop collections and aims to make it easier for residents to recycle even more.

Cllr Ken Trussell, cabinet member for environment, said: “It’s fantastic to see our new contract with Biffa begin, a lot of work has gone into securing a great deal for Crawley residents.

“A number of changes will take place over the coming months which will ensure a smoother more efficient waste and recycling service for the town. We will continue to keep residents informed and up-to-date.”

Further details and dates will be provided before the changes happen. For updates and information on the service and future changes visit the website