POTTERS Waste Management has won a five year deal to become the sole contractor for household waste recycling centres in Powys.

The Welshpool-based company, the biggest privately owned waste management firm in Wales, has gained the contract to run all Powys County Council’s recycling centres.

The Potter Group owned company already operates council recycling centres at Welshpool and Newtown but from July 1 will also manage the Brecon and Ystradgynlais sites along with a new Radnorshire site to be opened early next year.

The new contracts are designed to maximise recycling at the sites to contribute to the council’s stringent Welsh Government targets and the public can expect to see changes.

While all household waste will still be accepted, users will be asked to sort any mixed waste on site before putting it in the various containers and will also be asked to provide proof of their address before depositing any material.

James Potter, managing director of the Potters Group, said: “We are very pleased to have successfully tendered for a new five-year contract to run Powys County Council owned household waste recycling centres.

“We are honoured to become the sole contractor in Powys and will work alongside the council to help improve recycling targets.

“The news means we will be creating as many as 10 new jobs and protecting the current ones,” he added.

Councillor John Powell, Powys Council’s portfolio holder for waste and recycling, said: “We are delighted to be able to award these contracts and are looking forward to working closely with Potters Waste Management to improve both recycling rates at these sites and the service to the public. 

“We would ask that the public help us to achieve our targets by pre-sorting their waste and recyclables before taking them to the centres as well as maximising the opportunities for recycling from the kerbside.”