Sheffield City Council is considering ending its waste management contract with Veolia 20 years early as the deal is ‘no longer meeting its needs'.

The council will meet next week to discuss ending the contract, which was agreed back in 2001, and introduce new ways of providing waste services in the city.

Sheffield's cabinet member for the environment, Bryan Lodge, said: ‘Our contract with Veolia, which was signed 16 years ago, is no longer meeting our needs and is no longer compatible with the tough financial landscape in which the Government is forcing us to operate.

‘In last year's budget we set out crucial savings targets and, unfortunately, we have been unable to achieve these savings from the existing contract. 

‘We need to find a best-value solution that ensures a quality waste service for Sheffield taxpayers.'

The council stressed it was not intending to implement three-weekly collections of waste but would instead consider changing collection times, and charging for new and replacement black and green bins.