Decision details

Background:

There is no single waste food processing plant within Kent for domestic food collected by the Waste Collection Authorities. Whilst waste food is collected as a single stream it is either hauled to Basingstoke for processing or mixed with garden waste to produce compost at a plant near Kings Hill.

This is commercially expensive with a poor environmental outcome. There is a significant commissioning opportunity for Waste Management as a food waste processing plant is under construction in Kent; this is an Anaerobic Digester that has the capacity to accept and process all food waste collected in the County.

The current food contract expires in April 2020 and the plant will be completed within this timeframe.  This plant will eventually cater for all the County’s food waste collected from kerbside over a phased approach with initially Mid Kent and South West Kent food being accepted upon service commencement, with East Kent food following in January 2021 when KCC takes title of the material.

As Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste, I agree to approve the decision to openly tender & award a new food waste processing services to a supplier within the County.