In a document published by the Waste Improvement Network (WIN) this week (July 29), the IESE explained that nothing would be in place to fill the gap between the end of the WRAP scheme and the start of the IESE contract.
Instead, councils are being asked to make their own arrangements by accessing existing framework schemes such as the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation's framework which includes the supply of compost bins.
The IESE suggested: “Local Authorities are also able to make their own arrangements by extending arrangements temporarily with their existing suppliers.”
“The contract will be available for use from the 1st January so orders cannot be placed under it until then. Councils will need to ensure that they have enough stock to cover themselves in this period.”
Straight
Some bin manufacturers have moved in to plug the gap. Straight, which currently operates the bin supply scheme on behalf of WRAP, has said it can provide bins to councils once the current system comes to an end. It is launching its own scheme on October 1 and claimed that its bins would be 20-30% cheaper than those currently offered under the WRAP framework.
A spokeswoman for Straight said that 20% of local councils had either signed up to its scheme or in negotiations to do so.
Jonathan Straight, chief executive of Straight, said: “There is a lot of talk about a national framework campaign. We are supportive of this initiative but it will not start until 2010 at least. For this reason we are offering a seamless transition from WRAP for the remainder of 2009.
“Any council, who signs up for 2010 as well, will have prices fixed for the duration of the campaign. For those who want to wait and see, we can maintain a capability through the autumn,” he added.
Mr Straight said it was important that councils maintained a home composting capability throughout the autumn.
New framework
More information was also released by IESE about the shape the new framework would take once it was up-and-running and the document stated that the proposal was to provide a service which was “very similar” to what WRAP currently provides.
The scheme is intended to provide a way for councils in the UK to access garden commodities such as compost bins, wormeries and food waste digesters using a framework contract for supply and delivery whilst avoiding the tendering process.
It will feature a call centre so councils can place orders easily and units will be delivered directly to householders.
The IESE is working with the PRO5 consortium – a set of five purchasing organisations – to develop a business model for the framework. They are currently working together to prepare a business model.
Because the business model is not yet ready, no-one know how much the bins are going to cost. However the IESE said it was expecting to sell them at a “highly competitive price”. It has also said it will probably be able to work with councils to organise subsidies but needs to consult on this issue before taking it further.
A spokeswoman for WIN said a consultation group comprised of local authority stakeholders would be set up shortly in order for questions like this to be ironed out.
Information on the consultation process will be released via the WIN network, hopefully after the summer break.
The framework will also provide local authorities with sales data each quarter to enable them to report back to the Waste Data Flow. It is hoped that WRAP will support the scheme by providing a home composting adviser and maintain communication with the IESE however this is yet to be confirmed.
The system will be made available to councils from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Julian Lucraft, of the Better Tomorrows community interest company, has been appointed to manage the home composting framework.
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