Successful start for Ealing Council’s new waste and recycling contractor
Greener Ealing Ltd (GEL) is recording a successful first quarter since the business launched and took over the contract from Ealing Council’s previous provider.
The strong start was earmarked with a visit from Councillor Mik Sabiers, cabinet member for environment and highways today, Tuesday 13 October, to GEL’s headquarters at the Greenford Re-use and Recycling Centre. Directors of GEL’s non-executive board also attended.
It was an opportunity for staff to ask questions of the board and for the members to see first-hand the good work being carried out by GEL. The service was brought back under council control from Amey, the previous contractor, in July and the workforce of around 350 were transferred across to GEL.
Kevin O’Leary, interim Managing Director for GEL, said: “We have had a really positive start and we owe a lot of this to the staff who have embraced the new management and ways of working. We also have an entire new fleet of vehicles that staff needed to become quickly accustomed to, and a significant amount of training has been successfully delivered.”
Councillor Mik Sabiers added: “I’m impressed with how smoothly operations are running and how staff have welcomed the change. The council is proud of this service and since taking this contract back under its control we have been able to offer better pay and conditions for GEL staff. The business has got off to a great start, particularly in these difficult times.”
During the visit the staff were praised for their continued hard work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-executive board director and chairman, Mike Boult, presented the company’s third Employee of the Month award to Caroline Taylor. She was nominated by supervisor John Carpenter who said: “Caroline is installing the GEL mantra within the crew and finishing all tasks to the highest possible quality, showing care for what we do and who we are doing works for.”