Cornwall receives three bids for 100 million waste contract

Viridor Waste Management, Focsa Waste Services and SITA UK all submitted their tenders to Cornwall last week for evaluation.

Seven companies including Biffa, Cory, Shanks and HLC Waste had originally been interested in the PFI contract, which is to include the provision of infrastructure for recycling, composing and residual treatment.

As part of the deal, the successful bidder will have the opportunity to purchase the council's waste management company County Environmental Services or use it as a subcontractor. There will also be the opportunity to purchase selected assets.

This company currently holds the existing contract with the council to be replaced by the new integrated contract and has assets including civic amenity sites, transfer stations and landfill sites.

The council said it is delighted with the high level of interest that has been shown in the project by leading waste management companies, which it said have made significant investments in preparing their bids to date.

Cornwall said it would now enter into a period of intensive evaluation of bids and expects to short-list two bidders for the subsequent best and final offer stage.

A preferred bidder is expected to be appointed in the summer and contract signature is due to follow by the end of the year. The contract is due to start in March 2006.