Dundee City and Angus councils tender for residual waste contract

Dundee City Council and Angus Council are jointly tendering for a residual waste contract.

The two councils published the tender on the Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) website, outlining that the partnership aims to meet the waste targets required by the ‘relevant EU directives, applicable legislation and the Scottish Government Zero Waste policy’.

The Dundee City & Angus Residual Waste Project procurement is for the provision of residual waste management services to receive and treat waste collected by, or on behalf of, the partner councils at the existing Baldovie energy-from-waste incinerator.

The facility is currently leased by Dundee Energy Recycling Ltd, but following operational set-backs (including a fire in 2012 which forced the plant to close for a year), the company does not expect to trade beyond 1 January 2016.

As such, it is envisaged that the contract will include design, planning, construction, commissioning, licensing, operation and maintenance of residual waste reception and treatment facilities.

It is also hoped that the successful bidder will be able to propose a solution that enables a third party and/or the partner councils to buy back electricity and/or heat from the incinerator, and work with both councils to ensure “real and sustainable community benefits”.

A preferred bidder is expected to be announced in spring 2016 with a final appointment made later that year.

‘Paramount importance is having price certainty for the long term’

Speaking of the project, Ken Guild, Convener of Dundee City Council’s Policy and Resources Committee, said: “I am pleased that we are continuing our positive relationship with Angus Council.

“A new operator will be able to ensure that appropriate long-term investment is made at Baldovie to deal with residual waste from both council areas in the best possible way, ensure that it will meet new stringent Scottish Zero Waste regulations, and have a lasting positive impact on our environment.

“Dundee City Council has been a major investor in the waste-to-energy transfer plant at Baldovie and both councils have recognised the importance of that contribution. The use of the plant has saved both councils a considerable amount of money in Landfill Tax. However of paramount importance is having price certainty for the long term.”

Iain Gaul, Leader of Angus Council added that although the project is “complex”, it can “bring tangible benefits to… taxpayers”.

He commented: “This joint working is a significant achievement and our teams have been working hard to ensure the best outcome for residents. Fundamental to this new way of working is a commitment to improve waste services, maximise recycling opportunities and diverting as much waste as possible from landfill.

“While this new contract is a big moment for shared services, it also compliments the commitment made by Angus Council, and our residents, to drive down the amount of waste going to landfill.”

Both Dundee City Council and Angus Council announced that they were looking into expanding their recycling services this year, in a bid to reach Scottish Government’s 60 per cent recycling target by 2020.

The most recent figures for household waste recycling show Angus Council at 43.2 per cent, while Dundee City Council sits at 31.1 per cent.

Find out more about the Dundee City & Angus Residual Waste Project procurement.