Four local authorities in Surrey have agreed a 10-year joint waste contract with Amey.

The contract for Surrey Heath, Elmbridge, Mole Valley and Woking councils covers household waste collection, recycling, chargeable garden waste, recycling banks, clinical waste, replacement bins and provides an opportunity for a commercial waste service.

It will also include street cleaning and associated activities including street sweeping, bin emptying, graffiti removal, and fly-tipping and fly-posting clearance.

The councils expect the contract to save taxpayers across the four authorities more than £2m a year.

Existing fortnightly recycling and waste collections will be maintained, as will weekly food waste collections.

The contract will introduce a weekly collection of clothes, home textiles and small electricals while other new schemes include:

Surrey Waste Partnership part-funded the deal, which was supported by Surrey County Council as the waste disposal authority.

Amey chief executive Andy Milner (pictured) said: “This announcement sees us build on our reputation as a trusted and innovative provider of high-quality local waste collection services.

“We are committed to working closely with these councils to meet their sustainability and environmental objectives, while providing a first-rate service for local residents.”

Waste officers from Surrey Heath and Woking councils put out identical statements saying the deal was a “great result.”

“By working together, we’re able to deliver an improved waste and recycling collection service, while freeing up substantial sums of money to spend on the services which people value the most.”

The contract will have a staggered start depending on when each council’s current contract ends.

The earliest is Elmbridge in June 2017, followed by Woking in September 2017, Surrey Heath in February 2018 and Mole Valley in August 2018 for waste and recycling and April 2019 for street cleaning.

Other district and borough councils in Surrey, there are 11 overall, will have the opportunity to join as the contract progresses.