TAXPAYERS in Droitwich might soon be saving money by using one waste collection company across three local council areas.

The proposals to open up bids for a joint contract across Wychavon, Worcester City and Malvern Hills, is being touted by the council as potentially saving the district up to £500,000 a year.

Wychavon has been using a private company to collect waste since the early 1990s as a way of saving money, but it’s now considering sharing the contract, along with others for environmental services such as street cleaning and maintenance of public toilets.

Wychavon councillors are due to consider the plan later this year, and If the plan is approved, companies will be invited to bid at some point over the next 12-18 months with a recommendation expected to be put to councillors to consider in late 2016 or early 2017.

Any new contract would have to wait until September 2017 to come into force, once Wychavon’s current contract expires.

If any of the three councils involved decide not to proceed, the others will still be free to continue without them.

Councillor Emma Stokes, portfolio holder for environment and street scene on Wychavon District Council, said: “We have used a private company to provide these services for some years now and not only have we seen satisfaction levels increase but it has saved money and allowed us to keep Council Tax down. If this joint contract went ahead then our residents will see little or no change to the services they receive now, but it will allow us to meet the financial challenge we face in a way that does not impact on frontline services.”