Southend-on-Sea borough council will not renew its waste collection contract with Cory Environmental from October 2015, after the firm was dropped from a list of bidders.
The contract, which is worth between 100-150 million, will see the successful bidder carry out waste and recycling collection services in the borough for a maximum period of 17 years.
Other duties covered by the deal include operation of household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) in the borough, street cleansing, provision of vehicles and the potential build of a waste transfer station.
London-based waste management firm Cory Environmental has held Southends waste and recycling collection contract since 1990, in which time it rolled out a food waste collection service in the borough (see letsrecycle.com story).
In July 2008, the firm won a 43 million renewal of the contract, on the basis that Cory could help boost the boroughs recycling rate to 60% by 2015 (see letsrecycle.com story). In 2012/13 the council achieved an overall rate of 48.42%.
Following the first pre-qualification stage of the procurement, which began in April this year, four out of seven potential contractors have been shortlisted to provide the services.
And, while Cory Environmental, Serco and Urbaser were dropped from the procurement process Amey, Biffa, SITA UK and Veolia are still in the running, with the preferred bidder to be announced in March 2015.
Recognition
Commenting on the procurement, councillor Martin Terry, executive councillor for public protection, waste and transport, said the council recognised and valued the good work that Cory had done over the last 20 years and assured there would be a smooth transition with Cory staff transferred to the new contractor.
He said: Southend has a good a good track record in waste and recycling, which is reflected in recycling rates above the national average and negligible missed collections. However, we are committed to getting the best deal we can for Southends council tax-payers and regularly invite the market to compete for major contracts.
The councils current contract with our current supplier, Cory, expires next year, without the option of extension. Seven firms have bid for the contract, of which four have been shortlisted. Cory was not on the shortlist.
Meanwhile, residual waste in Southend will be treated at the 417,000 tonne capacity Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT) plant in Courtauld Road, Basildon, which is due to begin operations next year (see letsrecycle.com story).
When contacted by letsrecycle.com, Cory Environmental declined to comment on the councils decision.
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