The council’s cabinet will be asked to agree on the council’s ‘preferred bidder’ for its recycling, waste, and street cleansing contract on Monday, 16th September.
The report, which provides an update on the procurement process, will also be considered by the Place Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 11th September.
For legal reasons, the preferred bidder cannot be named at this stage but will be announced after the legally required 10-day ‘standstill period’ has passed.
As part of the new scheme, food waste collections will continue weekly. Details on how and when recycling is collected will be confirmed once the preferred bidder is in place. Any leftover waste, which cannot be recycled and currently goes in a black bag, will be collected fortnightly. Additionally, most homes will transition from plastic sacks to wheeled bins for both recycling and non-recyclable waste.
Cllr Lydia Hyde, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment, and Waste, says:
“In October 2023, the previous administration determined that we would change to alternate weekly collections. Since then, the bidders have been preparing bids on this basis. These submissions have been extensively evaluated for quality, cost, and the robustness of the proposed solution.
A decision on the preferred bidder will now be made by Cabinet on 16th September. If agreed, all bidders will be informed on 17th September, which will initiate the legally required ‘standstill period’ lasting ten days before the full contract award.
At this stage, to protect the integrity of the procurement process, ensure it remains open and fair, and to protect taxpayer money, we cannot comment further until the preferred bidder is announced. The new contract will officially start on 5th April 2025, but we do not expect major changes to how recycling and waste are collected until the end of October 2025.
Naturally, residents have many questions, concerns, and ideas regarding the new scheme. We are committed to engaging with the public as soon as possible. Expect much communication between the successful contractor, council, and residents between April and October 2025. In the meantime, please visit our website to see our FAQs.
This administration is committed to restoring civic pride, and we recognise the importance of an effective waste contract in that mission. As the Cabinet Member, I have been scrutinising the contract details for months, alongside officers, to ensure we are fully prepared for this change. We will continue working to ensure that the scheme benefits all residents, including those needing assisted collections. Exciting innovations, such as modern technology, will also be introduced to provide a better digital experience, support recycling, and improve street cleansing processes.”