Members of Wirral Council’s Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee will be asked to approve the award of the contract when they meet later this month.
If approved, the agreement will commence on 27 August 2027 and run for an initial eight years, with the option to extend for up to a further eight years.
The recommendation follows a procurement process undertaken by the council as it prepared for the expiry of its current contract with Biffa in August 2027.
Biffa have been the service provider for Wirral Council since 2006, providing waste and recycling collections to approximately 147,000 households.
The last contract extension took effect in 2017, and cannot be extended further.
Under the proposed arrangement Biffa would continue to deliver household waste collection, recycling collection and most street cleansing services across the borough.
The new contract is expected to cost approximately £21.8 million annually, with total expenditure over the initial eight-year term estimated at £174 million.
When borrowing and associated financing costs are included, the council estimates the total annual investment required to support the service at approximately £24.1 million.
Biffa was the sole bidder to submit a final tender.
Four companies initially expressed interest following publication of the contract notice in June 2025, with the procurement process designed to identify the most economically advantageous submission.
Wirral waste depot to get update
Alongside the proposed contract award, councillors will also be asked to consider a series of infrastructure investments intended to support long-term service delivery.
Central to these plans is the future of the Dock Road South depot, which currently plays a key role in the operation of waste collection and street cleansing services.
The council is proposing upgrades to the site to ensure it meets the requirements of the new contract. Committee members will also be asked to authorise the Director of Operations to progress negotiations to purchase the depot.
Council officers say ownership of the facility would provide Wirral with a secure long-term operational base for waste and street cleansing activities.
Under the proposals, Biffa would continue to operate from the site for its commercial activities through a leaseback arrangement or similar agreement.
The report states that the investment would help create a more resilient service while supporting the delivery requirements of the new contract over the coming years.
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