Dump-it sites to be brought back under council control

The borough’s four household waste recycling centres have been run in a partnership with local authorities in Doncaster and Barnsley since 2018.

The five-year deal will end in October but Rotherham Council will not continue the arrangement, citing “policy differences”.

Instead, the option set to be approved by cabinet members on Monday (23) is for RMBC to staff the sites — at Greasbrough, Bramley, Rawmarsh and North Anston — but with haulage and disposal contracted out.

The current annual budget for the centres is £1.02 million but would increase to an estimated £1.18 million if the partnership continued.

The preferred option will cost £1.2 million for three years, then rising to £1.25 million afterwards.

Sticking points in talks with the other councils included RMBC seeking a higher “social value” — what contractors can contribute to the community — and insisting that workers would be guaranteed the £10.90 real living wage.

A report to cabinet says: “Ultimately, a shared policy position could not be reached and as a result the council is seeking to develop and implement options for delivery of a bespoke service.”

RMBC says the change will allow more flexibility over the operation of the four waste sites.

A survey showed the public want paint to be accepted, for example, as well as bigger sites and longer opening hours.

“A directly delivered service allows for the greatest capacity to respond to any changes required,” the report says.

Cllr Dominic Beck, cabinet member for environment, said: “We’re working hard to create a better waste recycling service for the public.

“When the current household waste recycling centre contract expires, we’ll have the opportunity take greater control of the day-to-day running of the centres and bring about significant improvements to the service people are getting now.”

Upholstered furniture — including sofas and chairs — can no longer be accepted at Bramley’s waste site because of a change in rules, RMBC has said.