A CONTRACT has been awarded to run 13 household waste recycling centres.

Derbyshire-based HW Martin Waste Ltd will take over the management of council-owned centres across County Durham from June 1.

The company has been awarded a five-year contract for an undisclosed sum.

A spokesman for the company said the deal is the latest in a series of moves to expand the company’s recycling and waste management services in the North East.

The company operates contracts with Gateshead and South Tyneside councils and also for businesses, colleges and hospitals through its subsidiary Premier Waste Recycling Ltd, set up in April 2011 on the Drum Industrial Estate near Chester-le-Street.

Last year, Durham County Council held a review of its household waste recycling centres which saw the closure of tips near Consett and Evenwood and reduced opening hours at nine others.

The new contract announced today includes conditions that the new operators deliver "significant increases" in the amount of household rubbish which is recycled.

Mark Faulconbridge, operations director at HW Martin Waste Ltd, said: "Operating in these tough times continues to be a challenge, but in the North East we have invested heavily in the region over the past three years so that we can give the best service to our local authority and business customers.

"We are therefore very pleased that Durham County Council have awarded their prestigious household waste recycling centre contract to HW Martin Waste Ltd."