WILTSHIRE Council is set to overhaul how household waste and recycling services are delivered to cut costs for taxpayers while improving environmental performance.

The authority is moving to local authority trading companies (LATCos) where services are owned and controlled by councils rather than outsourced to private firms.

The council says this will give it greater flexibility over service delivery, tighter financial control and clearer accountability to residents.

Costs will be agreed upfront with any surplus reinvested into local services, while the structure is designed to allow quicker responses to changing environmental targets and legislation.

Council leaders argue the approach will protect jobs as staff transfer into the new companies retaining continuity of employment and improving workforce growth.

The model is also intended to support Wiltshire’s wider ambitions to cut carbon emissions and deliver more sustainable waste and recycling solutions.

Leader of Wiltshire Council Cllr Ian Thorn said: “Moving to a LATCo delivery model gives us the freedom to innovate, keep services local, and reinvest back into Wiltshire.

“It means we can deliver greener, smarter waste solutions that meet future challenges head-on and create real value for our taxpayers.”

Waste and recycling collections will be delivered by Ubico Ltd, a council-owned environmental services company already operating across Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire, while materials recycling facility arrangements will be handled by Norse Group, Britain’s largest local authority trading company.

Managing director at Ubico Beth Boughton added: “We are looking forward to working in partnership with Wiltshire Council as our newest shareholder.”

Chief executive of Norse Group Justin Galliford said: “Norse Group is looking forward to working in partnership with Wiltshire Council on this exciting new venture.”

The council says the partnerships represent a significant step towards keeping waste services local, greener and more resilient for the future.