Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP) has launched the procurement process to find a new kerbside collection contractor to service the 250,000 households in the county with publication of an OJEU notice.
In the coming months, suppliers will be invited to bid for a contract to include recycling, refuse and garden waste collections for the whole county – one of the largest single collection contracts in the UK.
SWP, as the first county-wide waste partnership, has a long history of innovation that has seen introduction of such things as the first kerbside separated food waste collection service at scale, and the first annual recycling End Use Register.
“While this is certainly about taking a quantum leap forward in our recycling rates, it’s equally about finding a partner to share SWP’s wider vision for the future.”
The process was initiated after SWP and current contractor Kier agreed to bring their current agreement to early termination in 2020.
It will be based on delivery of the “Recycle More” service model, consisting of comprehensive weekly recycling and food waste collections and three-weekly residual waste pick-ups.
Cllr Derek Yeomans, Chair of the Somerset Waste Board, said: “While this is certainly about taking a quantum leap forward in our recycling rates, it’s equally about finding a partner to share SWP’s wider vision for the future.
“They will not see their job as simply collecting waste and recycling but will share our ambition to create an exemplar service, demonstrating an absolute commitment to environmental quality while delivering excellent value for money.”
The new contract is scheduled to commence from March 2020.