Portsmouth to bring waste and collection services in-house

Following a cabinet decision, Portsmouth City Council will bring its waste management services in house from March 2024

Portsmouth’s existing contract with BIFFA began in October 2011. The original eight year deal contained a two-year extension clause activated by the council, who have subsequently extended the deal to March 2024.

Following the decision to bring the service in house, the council will work with BIFFA to make sure that all staff who are dedicated to the Portsmouth City Council contract at the time of transfer become council employees.

Explaining the in-house move, Cllr Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Portsmouth city council’s leader, said:

“The decision will give us greater flexibility in how we manage the service and will give the staff who work on domestic refuse and recycling collection for Portsmouth additional benefits in working for the council.

“Our decision is pragmatic not ideological. We will look at whether to bring services in-house on a case-by-case basis and we believe the decision today will benefit Portsmouth residents in the long term.”

Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Portsmouth’s cabinet member for climate change and environment, added:

“Having the service in-house will allow us to make further improvements over coming years to benefit Portsmouth residents.”