Purpose

Proposed decision

The Cabinet Member for Environment to approve the award of new contractual arrangement for the receipt and treatment of Street Sweepings and Highway Mechanical Arisings delivered to KCC’s Transfer Stations by Collection Authorities and delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Highways and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport to take relevant actions, including but not limited to, awarding, finalising the terms of and entering into the relevant contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary, to implement the decision

Reason for the decision

·      KCC is seeking a new contractual arrangement for the receipt and treatment of this material.

Background

·      As the Waste Disposal Authority, KCC has a statutory responsibility to dispose of waste collected by the Waste Collection Authorities, which includes waste collected by street sweeper vehicles.

·      By treating this waste, it is seperated into constiuent parts, such as sand, stones, metals glass, soil, leaves, organic matter and litter, and reused in construction and restoration projects.

·      It is envisaged that the commission will be presented in three geographical lots: West Kent,  East Kent & Mid Kent, to take account of haulage considerations to the treatment facility and will include provision for managing 11,000 tonnes of street sweepings and highway mechanical arisings collected by the collection authorities across Kent.

·      The contract is expected to commence on 1st June 2024 for a duration of up to 4 years, with a break clause in the 2nd year. The market engagement exercise informed the contract length as being the most attractive to the industry, whilst giving KCC flexibility to review the arrangements based on performance.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

·      Option 1 – Do nothing – the current arrangements will continue; This is not a viable option as the incumbent’s extension proposal is not financial sustainable for the Authority.

·      Option 2 – Discontinue accepting the street sweeping and highway mechanical arisings waste from the collection authorities in Kent; this is not an option due to KCC’s obligation to take this waste as the Waste Disposal Authority.

·      Option 3 – Continue to accept the waste, but utilise alternative disposal options by using landfill or incineration; this is not an option as there is an obligation to comply with the waste hierarchy and to meet landfill diversion targets.Furthermore, to send this material to incineration would be costly against a treatment option.

Preferred option:

·         Option 4 is the preferred option. The Authority is seeking to appoint a new provider to secure a contract (for up to four years) that will benefit and achieve the best outcomes for the authority and Kent households and fulfil the statutory duty of KCC operating under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, to dispose of collected municipal waste.

Decision

As Cabinet Member for Environment, I agree to:

(i)            COMMISSION and award a contract for the receipt and processing of street sweepings and highway mechanical arisings for up to 4 years and

(ii)          DELEGATE authority to the Director of Environment and Circular Economy in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services to take relevant actions, including but not limited to, awarding, finalising the terms of and entering into the relevant contracts or other legal agreements, as necessary, to implement the decision.