Six bidders shortlisted to run Milton Keynes MRF

Community Waste, formed by Cutts Bros and Atlantic Paper, won a contract in August 2004 (see letsrecycle.com story) to operate the MRF which is now seen as one of the top performing sites in the UK and has been used as an example of good practice by the Waste & Resources Action Programme.

The plant, on Colts Holm Road in Old Wolverton, currently takes in recyclables from Milton Keynes and elsewhere as it has capacity to handle more than just material generated locally.

While Milton Keynes council is still to confirm the list to letsrecycle.com, it is understood that Community Waste will have to battle against five other keen contenders to keep its operational contract for the plant.

At present the plant operates on an “income generating arrangement” and this method will feature in discussions about the bidders for the new contract. Milton Keynes council, which owns the plant, also wants tenderers to look at ways of taking more types of recyclables to the MRF and increasing throughput.

No-one was available at Community Waste to comment on the tender situation.

On the list are three known MRF operators including large firms Greenstar and Viridor – both of who run a number of MRFs – and Yorkshire-based HW Martin which also has experience in the sector.

Also among the contenders is a surprise joint venture bid from newly-formed Matrix Recycling Facilities Ltd, comprising Aylesford Newsprint and Abitibi-Bowater, both of which run newsprint mills in the UK. Abitibi also operates MRFs in Canada.

Chris White, commercial director for Aylesford, has been a vocal critic of poor materials from materials recycling facilities and a strong supporter of the Campaign for Real Recycling which is opposed to the use of materials recycling facilities.

However, Mr White has said that Aylesford Newsprint has not stopped taking materials from MRFs and that: “The emphasis should be on quality, as long as we get quality materials that won't change.”

The final bidder is a joint bid from Amey – known primarily for its work in the roads sector – and Spanish firm Cespa. Both Amey and Cespa are owned by Spanish giant Ferrovial.

The contract for the plant will be for between 5-15 years and a competitive dialogue process is to be used by Milton Keynes council to “as to the optimum contract duration”.