The Authority is now sounding out interest in the “recycling and composting led” contract, which would provide waste services for all Manchester districts except Wigan.
The integrated waste management contract would begin in April 2006, but the Authority has ruled out a bid from its existing arms-length waste company, Greater Manchester Waste.
” We are now actively soft market testing for the contract.“
– Paul Dunn, GMWDA
Instead, GM Waste is likely to be sold – or partially sold – in what could turn out to be a multi-million pound windfall for the Authority. Serving Greater Manchester alone makes GM Waste the eight largest waste company in Britain.
The Authority will also consider keeping GM Waste, one of the few remaining Local Authority Waste Disposal Companies (LAWDC), for use as a sub-contractor in the 2006 contract.
Recycling
By the time the contract begins, if the Authority reaches its targets, it will be recycling and composting 20% of its household waste. The first recycling target of the contract will then be to reach 33% in 2010.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, director of the GMWDA Paul Dunn said: “The Authority is responsible for nine districts of greater Manchester – nearly one million households, handling 1.5 million tonnes of waste. We are now actively soft market testing for the contract, which will follow our strategy with key targets to reach 50% recycling targets (by 2020) and zero waste.”
Mr Dunn said that Authority is being given hands-on assistance by the government's Public Private Partnership Programme, and has appointed PriceWaterhouseCoopers as its advisor. And, the Authority intends to apply for Private Finance Initiative support for the contract in August this year.
Technology
Although the Authority has “yet to develop definitive thoughts” on the contract, it will involve running the Bolton energy from waste plant, and could involve mechanical biological treatment or similar waste treatment technologies.
The Authority is expecting to select four bidding companies at the end of October 2004, who will bid for the contract by March 2005. A preferred bidder is likely to be chosen by September 2005 before the contract is awarded in March 2006.
Mr Dunn said: “The most important part of the contract will be security for the workforce and continued service delivery for Manchester.”
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