The project will involve 25 million in Private Finance Initiative credits, but the overall value of the contract could be as high as 320 million over the contract period, the council has said.
Commencing operations in April 2006, the new waste contract would aim to achieve 60% recycling or composting of Gloucestershire's waste by 2020. This would follow the county's current targets of 17% by 2002-03, 24% by 2003-04 and 36% by 2005-06.
In a statement approving the PFI support, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Margaret Beckett, said: “This shows the clear commitment we are looking for in delivering action on waste minimisation, recovery and recycling. I'm sure it will help the county reach its future recycling targets.”
Tender
Gloucestershire is now preparing the way for the procurement process, and a tender is likely around May or June 2003. The council is undertaking a “preliminary market survey”, inviting potential participants to respond with ideas for maximising the effectiveness of the contract.
“We want to make the Gloucestershire project as attractive as possible,” said Mike Williams, the county's strategic waste manager. “We want to get a lot of new ideas coming in, and a lot of competition, so we should be able to offer Best Value to the people of Gloucestershire.”
Mr Williams, who is heading up the council's PFI procurement team, confirmed that the new contract would include the construction of six tunnel composting facilities, three materials recycling facilities and one windrow composting facility. However, these facilities are still subject to planning decisions.
Click here for more information on the Gloucestershire PFI survey. Potential participants are asked to respond by April 10 2003.
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