THE successful bidder for a £144million eight-year waste contract for Southend has been announced ahead of the roll out off wheelie bins and revamped services.

SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK has been handed an £18million a year contract to takeover recycling, waste, and street cleansing services from Veolia.

The firm will be tasked with providing alternate bi-weekly collections for waste and recycling alongside the management of two recycling centres, a transfer station and street cleaning operations.

The contract will include the transition to a full wheeled bin collection scheme from October 2025.

A new resident app, compatible with Alexa and a dedicated website will be introduced to help people keep up to date with information.

A partially electric street cleansing fleet, use of recycled vegetable oil for all plant machinery and route optimisation to lower vehicle mileage will all contribute to cutting emissions by more than 4,000 tonnes a year.

Improvements to Southend’s two waste and recycling centres will be aimed at boosting the city’s recycling rate.

Residents will be be able to recycle a wider range of items at the two sites and the reuse shop at Stock Road will be revived and joined by a brand-new shop at Leigh Marshes.

Lydia Hyde, councillor responsible for climate, environment and waste, said there will be a “transitional period” from April to ease residents into the changes.

She said: “This administration has made a commitment to rebuilding pride in our city, and I look forward to working closely with SUEZ UK to help achieve this with an excellent new recycling and waste service that works for all residents.

“This includes introducing exciting innovations that will make our streets cleaner and support residents to recycle more.”

“We recognise that the move to alternate weekly collections and the introduction of wheeled bins is a significant adjustment for residents. We want residents to understand the new scheme and how collections will work, and so we will be providing lots of information and engaging with residents throughout the transition period.”

Veolia staff will have the opportunity to move over to the new contractor.

John Scanlon, chief executive officer for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “We are thrilled that SUEZ has been given this opportunity to provide recycling, waste, and street cleansing services for Southend Council. We look forward to embarking on this new partnership which will roll out new customer service benefits for residents, together with an ambitious strategy to help the council realise its carbon neutral aspirations, increase recycling rates and deliver lasting benefits for the local community. We are excited to get started and deliver for the people of Southend.”