The increased cost of providing waste management services across the Island is being addressed by the Isle of Wight Council.
A contract cost surge of £6.5million, predicted to rise to £9million in 2027/28, is 1 of 3 main factors behind County Hall’s ‘serious financial distress’, with a £20million Structural Deficit for 2026/27, according to a budget report.
In December 2025, the council confirmed waste provision will be transferred from Thalia Waste Management as of 1st April this year.
A spokesperson for the local authority has said this week:
“In managing the transition of waste services from the current provider, we now have information that overall annual waste management costs are higher than the original amount budgeted by the council based on the tendered sum in 2015.
“A plan is being put in place to significantly reduce these costs prior to entering into a new longer term contracted arrangement in around two years’ time. In the meantime, we are finalising terms with Veolia to enable them to take on the management of the waste contract while we prepare and finalise the contract retender.”
Veolia is a French multinational corporation providing waste, water and energy services.
The budget report said the council finds itself in ‘serious financial distress’ mainly because of ‘unforeseen events’ arising within a very short period.
They are listed as the escalating costs of social care, the failure of the waste contract and substantial funding cuts in the government’s Local Government Finance Settlement.
Oh well deal with it as we have to deal with all our expenses..
The question has to be: How were Thalia able to walk away from the contract, presumably with no financial consequences?
I doubt they will get away scot free eventually….the same is happening is happening at many of their sites. They cite higher costs after tender by which time councils are locked in for years. Every PFI contract operates the same way. The solution is to borrow for the infrastructure and bring all public services back in house. Costly in the beginning but ultimately a saving which doesn’t line the pockets of foreign multi-billionnaires.
They leave more waste behind them than what they takeaway.
Outside your house maybe, EIE, and if so perhaps you should ask yourself why. In fact, the teams that service Freshwater are excellent in attitude, approach and execution. The only uncollected litter/ rubbish round our way is left behind by lazy, thoughtless residents and passers-by. Our bin boys are brilliant. My only criticism is the sexism that dictates that no women are allowed to earn a living by forging a career in dealing with piles of putrid detritus in the glorious fresh air…
So when the council cock up budgets it becomes a “unforeseen event”. Repeatedly letting people on Iow down is no longer an “unforeseen event” it is negligence. Not fit for purpose