COUNCIL chiefs at Warrington will be asked next week to award a new contract which will make savings on the supply of a material recovery facility – the sorting and preparation of recycled materials for sale.
Waste procurement and recycling officers are recommending the council to award the contract to a company offering the best price rather than one offering the highest quality service.
A report to be considered by the council’s executive board gives no details of the tender prices – but indicates that the favoured bidder is offering a service at a better price than currently paid.
In addition, there will be additional income for the council from the sale of recyclable materials.
Current budget for the service is £292,635.
The successful company will sort and prepare to recycling materials collected in Warrington’s blue bins.
The blue bin system has proved highly successful since it was introduced in Warrington in 2007 and has contributed to an increase in waste recycling which last year stood at more than 43 per cent.
The current MRF is at Widnes and, although in recent years, prices for recyclable materials have been unsteady they have now stabilised, with materials such as paper and metals fetching high prices.
Council chiefs hope to be able to extend the range of materials that can be collected and sold.
The authority originally sent out 26 questionnaires to potential bidders. Fifteen were completed and returned and eventually the council selected six to continue to negotiate with. Three subsequently withdrew from the tender evaluation process.
Members of the council’s evaluation team scored one firm highest in relation to quality – but is recommending another which has submitted the lowest contract price.
The contract will cover the period November 1 this year to October 31, 2013.
