The Norwich based Norse Group is now providing domestic refuse collections to almost a million people, having added waste collection arrangements in Medway and East Hampshire to its growing portfolio of services in October.
The company already provides waste collection in Havant and has now added services such as waste collection, grounds maintenance, street cleansing and public toilet cleaning in the neighbouring East Hampshire District Council area. This has seen around 80 staff join Norse’s existing Norse South East operation.
A further 270 staff have transferred into Norse’s Medway operation to deliver refuse collection, recycling and street cleansing, in addition to the current arrangements Norse has with Medway Council for property and grounds maintenance, transport and household waste recycling centres.
The new agreements mean Norse is now providing waste collection services for more than 983,000 residents in seven English council areas, including East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Wellingborough.
Norse has acquired a fleet of around 80 new refuse, grounds and street cleaning vehicles to service the two new contracts.
Norse took over responsibility for refuse collection in Daventry in June 2018 in a 10-year agreement worth £50 million, which has already resulted in a big increase in recycling rates.
Norse Group Managing Director Dean Wetteland said: “We have a proven track record of success in the waste collection arena, where we have demonstrated we can deliver a very efficient and effective service for partnering authorities. I am confident we can build on this success and make further gains in this increasingly important field in the year ahead.”
Norse, which is 100% owned by Norfolk County Council, provides a range of services in England and Wales, including facilities management, property services and residential care homes. It expects its turnover to reach £500m within the next five years, with the new agreements in Medway and East Hampshire taking staff numbers past the 10,000 mark.
