FCC Environment Secures 12-Year Waste Contract for South West Kent

The Contract Details

Two Kent councils have stuck with what they know. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council have handed their existing waste contractor another 12 years of work – a hefty deal that starts 1 April 2027.

FCC Environment gets to keep doing what it’s already doing across both areas: household recycling, waste collection and street cleansing. TMBC calls it the largest jointly commissioned service between the councils. Which it is.

But why no change? The councils evaluated bids using a 60% price and 40% quality weighting – criteria councillors approved back in March 2025.

Why Continuity Won

The procurement used the Competitive Flexible Procedure. Early supplier engagement, formal dialogue phases, the full works. FCC Environment came out on top.

Officials reckon keeping the current operator delivers a smooth transition and maintains consistent services. There’s sense in that – FCC Environment knows the local routes, depot arrangements and collection patterns inside out. They’ve been doing it for years.

Mind you, residents might wonder whether a fresh face could’ve brought new ideas or savings. The councils framed this as best value, balancing cost with quality.

What Changes for Households

Not much.

TMBC says the current service already meets the Government’s Simpler Recycling requirements. No major upheaval when the new contract kicks in, then. Bin days stay the same. Recycling categories unchanged. Collection frequencies as they were.

For most households, the biggest difference will be invisible – new contract paperwork rather than anything happening on their street.

The Bigger Picture

Waste contracts aren’t glamorous, but they matter. Street cleanliness, recycling performance, household collections – they touch every resident’s daily life. Get them wrong and you hear about it.

A 12-year term provides stability. But it also locks in current approaches until the late 2030s – a long time in local government. The councils now face two years of transition and mobilisation work.

Key Takeaways

• FCC Environment retains the joint waste contract for Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells from April 2027
• The 12-year deal was awarded after evaluation weighted 60% on price and 40% on quality
• Services should continue largely unchanged as they already meet Simpler Recycling requirements

What This Means for Kent Residents

Households across both council areas can expect continuity in their bin collections and street cleaning when the new contract begins in 2027. The decision to retain the existing contractor suggests minimal disruption to established collection days and recycling arrangements. With two years until the contract starts, residents will likely receive updates about any minor changes as the transition approaches, though officials indicate the current service model will largely continue unchanged.