Project leader Bradford has announced that it has cut down 16 expressions of interest in the contract to just eight following a meeting of its project board on October 23.
The deal, which will begin in 2015, was put out for tender in July after the council received £62.1 million in PFI credits (see letsrecycle.com story).
Those who have been selected include waste management firms Biffa, Shanks, SITA UK, Veolia and Waste Recycling Group.
A consortium between US energy-from-waste firm Covanta and Bradford-based utilities firm Kelda, which was originally known as Yorkshire Water, has also been shortlisted, alongside a partnership between Californian engineering and construction firm Earth Tech, Swedish-based construction giant Skanska and private equity infrastructure fund Meridiam.
The final bid which will go through to the next stage is one from a consortium consisting of London-based John Laing, an equity inestor in public infrastructure, Warrington-based services firm United Utilities, and Maidenhead-based construction firm Costain.
Bradford and Calderdale council will now enter ‘competitive dialogue' with the remaining eight to look in detail at their proposals.
The solution must help the authorities increase the amount of rubbish recycled by householders to at least 50 per cent. Currently, approximately 27 per cent of household waste in Bradford and Calderdale is recycled and the rest is sent to landfill.
A shortlist will be drawn up around Easter next year following these discussions.
Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Executive Member for Environment and Culture, said: “This is a significant step forward for Bradford and Calderdale and we can now enter more detailed discussions with the companies involved to find out what they have to offer.”
Despite using a combination of mechanical biological treatment, in-vessel composting and thermal treatment as their reference project in order to gain PFI support, Bradford council said this would not influence which technology they picked.
Cllr Hawkesworth said: “We remain open-minded about what waste treatment option we are looking for and are looking forward to hearing innovative proposals from some of the leading waste management companies in the country.”
Councillor Graham Reason, Calderdale council's portfolio holder for health and social care, said: “Real progress is now being made with this scheme and I am looking forward to hearing what proposals these companies bring to the table.
“What we are looking for in this process is a solution that will be the most economically advantageous to both Councils.”
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