Recycling company Viridor has been awarded a four-and-a-half-year contract to sort and market the waste collected for recycling from households across Suffolk.

The deal has been agreed with the Suffolk Waste Partnership, which includes all seven district/borough authorities in Suffolk and the county council, following a competitive tendering process.

It continues an involvement for Viridor in the county’s recycling programme which already goes back 10 years, and includes an option for a further two-year extension beyound the initial term.

Viridor, which is part of Pennon Group plc, will sort and market the estimated 50,000 tonnes of recyclable material collected by the county’s seven local councils at its Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Great Blakenham, near Ipswich, including mixed plastics, cartons, aluminium and steel cans, mixed paper and cardboard.

Andrew Nunn, who chairs the Suffolk Waste Partnership, said: “The partnership is pleased to announce the continuation of what has been a successful and productive 10-year association with Viridor, following a competitive tendering procedure.

“In this time, recycling of household waste in Suffolk has risen from 8% to over 50% and the new arrangement will be fundamental as we strive to achieve our target of 60% by 2015.

“The excellent value achieved with this arrangement highlights what local councils can achieve working together, for the overall benefit of the Suffolk Council Tax payer,” he added.

Graham Warren, Viridor’s regional director, said: “We are pleased to be able to continue working with the local councils in Suffolk with a true partnership approach at heart.

“Over the years, Viridor has helped the local councils in Suffolk achieve some of the highest recycling rates in the country and we look forward to continuing working with them in delivering efficient and cost-effective services to people in in the county.”