Merton Council's Cabinet has approved a £92,000 variation to its waste collection contract with Veolia for the 2026/27 financial year, specifically for the council's free bulky waste service. This enhancement aims to tackle fly-tipping by offering residents a convenient and responsible disposal option.
The variation will see the deployment of an extra vehicle and two additional staff members, effectively doubling the resources allocated for bulky waste collections within the core contract. This will enable a second collection round, increasing the service's capacity to meet anticipated demand. Residents can now book one free collection of up to three items.
The pro-rata budget impact for this bulky waste service variation in 2026/27 is projected at £323,000. This figure accounts for the loss of bulky waste income against the approved budget target, additional Veolia contract costs, system development, and estimated disposal costs due to increased service demand. The report acknowledges that potential indirect savings from reduced fly-tipping, environmental enforcement, and street cleansing are not included in this financial assessment due to the difficulty in quantifying them at this stage.
Authority has been delegated to the Executive Director of Environment, Civic Pride and Climate, in consultation with the Lead Member for Cleaner Streets, Environment and Transport, to approve any subsequent contract variations permitted by the Council's Contract Standing Orders. Further details can be found in the Public reports pack for the Cabinet meeting on 21 September 2026.
