Since the failure of the Tovi Eco Park energy from waste (EfW) facility in Basildon and changes in the refuse derived fuel market in 2019, Essex has sent residual waste to various landfill sites, including the Bellhouse Landfill in Colchester.
Essex formally launched a tender for an initial seven-year deal worth £62 million per year in August as it looked to move away from landfill (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, last week, Essex sent bidders a message, seen by letsrecycle.com, saying they had decided to halt the procurement process and relaunch the invitation to tender on 2 December.
The notice reads: “This decision has been taken based on technical issues which have come to light upon a further detailed review of the tender documentation relating to the clarity of instructions for bidders and the evaluation criteria.”
The move is believed not to have gone down well with some in the market, as several operators had already begun to put significant work into their bids.
The original tender said the successful contractor would ensure contract waste was disposed of “in a compliant manner” whilst maximising recycling and recovery “where possible”. Essex said the contractor would receive a guaranteed 80% of their awarded tonnage in each contract year and may need to dispose of waste volumes up to 20% higher.
‘Technical issues’
An Essex county council spokesperson declined to specify the exact “technical issues” when asked by letsrecycle.com.
Technical issues have come to light during the procurement process
However, they said: “The council has taken the decision to temporarily halt the procurement process for a new medium-term residual waste treatment contract. It will relaunch the invitation to tender in early December.
“Technical issues have come to light during the procurement process relating to the clarity of instructions for bidders and the evaluation criteria. The documents will be revised and re-issued.
“In order to ensure an open and transparent competition and to minimise additional work for all bidders, the core documents will be substantially the same. The council believes this course of action will enable bidders to give their best possible responses.”
Race
The race to process Essex’s waste is expected to prove extremely competitive. Among those expected to bid, Belgian waste management firm Indaver says its 595,000 tonnes per year capacity Rivenhall EfW facility to begin commissioning in early 2025 and to be fully operational by the end of the same year.
Meanwhile, last month, Viridor agreed to acquire Thameside Energy Recovery Facility Ltd, the company which owns the rights to develop and construct a 350,000 tonne per year capacity EfW plant in Tilbury Docks, East London (see letsrecycle.com story).
Essex
Representing an estimated population of more than 1.8 million, Essex county council had a household waste recycling rate of 49.8% in the 2020/21 financial year.
The council disposes of waste from the 12 district and borough councils that make up the waste collection authorities across the county.
UBB Waste (Essex) Ltd, a partnership between waste management company Urbaser and infrastructure group Balfour Beatty, signed a PFI contract with Essex in 2012 to design, build, and operate the Tovi Eco Park across a 28-year period (see letsrecycle.com story).
However, the facility was plagued by significant issues and Essex announced in April it would be closed, cleaned and removed from the site, with UBB’s contract cancelled (see letsrecycle.com story). Preliminary works ahead of the demolition of the Tovi Eco Park are scheduled to get underway “shortly” (see letsrecycle.com story).
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