Two North-east businesses have secured contracts to be the preferred suppliers of waste management services in Aberdeen city centre over the next three years.
Aberdeen-based EIS Waste Services Limited and Keenan Recycling Limited have been selected by business organisation Aberdeen Inspired following a competitive tendering process which aims to bring about positive change in the way in which trade waste is managed.
Aberdeen Inspired, which represents more than 700 city centre businesses, intends that the new service will have environmental and financial benefits for more than 1,600 businesses in the city centre.
The organisation aims to increase recycling and reduce waste to landfill, limit the impact on the street scene and environment, provide reliable and regular collections of trade waste, and help customers to reduce expenditure on waste management services.
The tender process was funded by Zero Waste Scotland which awarded a grant to provide consultancy support to work towards the Scottish Government’s targets of recycling and reducing waste. Aberdeen is one of three areas across Scotland to benefit from this funding.
EIS Waste Services Limited and Keenan Recycling Limited hope to increase their customer base to provide collection, recycling and residual waste services for the various waste streams required by city centre businesses.
Food waste services are also part of the agreement, including the supply, collection and treatment of appropriate containers which meet the requirements of Waste Scotland Regulations.
In addition, the firms aim to increase recycling and will provide advice to businesses on how waste should be collected and stored in the city centre.
Geoff Cooper, city centre manager said: “Waste management and recycling services are crucial to businesses in the city centre.
“We are looking forward to working with EIS Waste Services Limited and Keenan Recycling Limited to manage business waste more effectively and hopefully reduce costs for our city centre businesses.
“A similar model of waste management is used in Edinburgh city centre and we are keen to replicate its success here in Aberdeen.
“We often receive feedback regarding trade waste bins in the city centre and we want to support our local businesses to help to create a more attractive and welcoming city centre for all who visit.”
Neil Sharp, founder and managing director of EIS Waste Services Limited, said: “We are pleased to partner with Aberdeen Inspired and the businesses within the Business Improvement District (BID) to effect positive change and make the area one of the most vibrant, attractive and prosperous city centres in Scotland.
“Our commitment to Aberdeen and reliably delivering the very highest quality of services for our clients is underlined by our recent £750,000 investment in new state-of-the-art vehicles to support new contracts such as this recent award by Aberdeen Inspired.”
Grant Keenan, managing director of Keenan Recycling Limited, said: "I’m absolutely delighted that we will be working with Aberdeen Inspired to help deliver best value for businesses throughout the city centre. It’s a forward-thinking idea and we are very proud to be a part of it."
Aberdeen Inspired is the banner under which the Aberdeen Business Improvement District (BID) operates. It is a business-led initiative within the city centre in which levy payers within the BID zone contribute.
Proceeds are used to fund projects designed to improve the business district. Due to its on-going success, the organisation won 2017 European BID of the Year.
More information about Aberdeen Inspired is available online at: www.aberdeeninspired.com