In Derby City and Derbyshire, over 530,000 tonnes of municipal waste
is collected each year. In 2007/08, more than 295,000 tonnes was sent
to landfill – which is not environmentally or financially sustainable.
Reducing, reusing and recycling is an important part of managing
Derby and Derbyshire’s waste sustainably, but not all waste can be
managed in this way. Therefore, additional facilities are needed
to reduce the amount of this residual waste being sent to landfill.

Against this background, Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council and all eight
District and Borough Councils in Derbyshire have developed a Joint Municipal Waste
Management Strategy for Derby and Derbyshire (June 2006). This strategy
provides a framework for how municipal solid waste will be dealt with in the County
and City over the next 20 years to ensure that Government targets are met.

If we don’t meet targets to reduce landfill Derby City Council and Derbyshire County
Council could face hefty fines or charges, which could see Council Tax increase.

We must act now to:

• Ensure a range of facilities and services are in place to meet
  these targets
• Avoid heavy fines for continuing to landfill too much
• Reduce the environmental impact of landfill

Both Councils tendered for bidders to take forward a joint waste management contract.
Resource Recovery Solutions (Derbyshire) Ltd was selected in December 2008 as the
preferred bidder by Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council to take their
joint waste management contract forward. The 27 year contract will see an investment
of £500 million in Derby and Derbyshire. This contract is not funded through a Private
Finance Initiative (PFI).