The West Yorkshire councils announced this week (June 15) that the remaining bidders are a partnership of Californian engineering firm Earth Tech and Swedish construction firm Skanska and the 3SE consortium of waste management firm Shanks and energy firm Scottish and Southern Energy.
The reduced shortlist means that consortiums involving American energy-from-waste specialist Covanta Energy and utilities firm Kelda Water – known as Aire Valley Environmental – and the Osiris partnership, which is formed of construction firm Costain, equity investors John Laing and United Utilities, both miss out.
Bradford and Calderdale originally received 16 tenders when the contract was first advertised in July 2008 before reducing this to just four as of July 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story). The partnership now anticipates awarding the contract to a preferred bidder within the next 12 months.
Plans
Both of the remaining bidders have submitted plans centred on the development of an unspecified waste treatment technology at a site Bowling Back Lane in Bradford, with the council hopeful of having infrastructure operational by late 2014 or early 2015.
And, while the council used a ‘hybrid' method of mechanical biological treatment, in-vessel composting and thermal treatment as the reference technology in it successful bid for PFI funding, it has not ruled out the possibility of adopting combined heat and power technology.
Commenting on the shortening of the list of bidders, councillor Ghazanfer Khaliq, Bradford metropolitan district council's executive member for environment and sustainability, said: “Bradford and Calderdale are working together to save money and develop an efficient and sustainable waste solution.
“Residents can rest assured that they will be informed and consulted about any decisions being made, taking into account their needs, environmental impact and value for money. We will make sure that the design, location and construction of any waste treatment facility will take into account the quality of life for local residents.”
And, councillor Barry Collins, Calderdale council's portfolio holder for economy and environment, added: “Using landfill is no longer an option for dealing with our waste. It cannot be justified either environmentally or financially. The two bidders will consult with local residents about their proposals for waste treatment facilities and make sure that everyone has their say about their proposals.”
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