Decision details

Reason for the decision

•         KCC has entered into a short term supply agreement (from 16 January 2021 until 1st December 2021) for East Kent Paper and Card (est. 15,000 tonnes p/a) to ensure continuity of supply, whilst KCC goes out to market for the wider receipt and processing service which incorporates County-wide provision within a longer-term contractual arrangement.

Background

•         As the Waste Disposal Authority, KCC has a statutory responsibility to dispose of waste collected by the Waste Collection Authorities and deposited at Household Waste Recycling Centres, one stream being  Paper and Card.

•         The current arrangements are:

o        an existing contract with Smurfit Kappa (which ceases in December 2021) for the receipt and processing of paper and card collected at Kent’s 18 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and received from South West Kent’s kerbside collections.

o        a short-term contract (10.5 months) for the receipt and processing of paper and card collected from the East Kent kerbside which became KCC’s title in January 2021.

•         A longer-term contractual arrangement (up to 5 years) is sought for the receipt and processing of paper and card collected from the East Kent and South West Kent kerbsides and to include paper and card from all Kent’s HWRCs.

•         It is envisaged that the commission will be presented in geographical Lots to take account of haulage considerations to the treatment facility and will include provision for managing circa 33,000 tonnes of Paper and Card.

•         This is an income generating material which is market tracked. There is further financial benefit in segregating the card from the mixed paper at the HWRCs.

Options (other options considered but discarded)

•         Option 1 – Do nothing – the current arrangements will continue; this is not an option as one of the contracts is a short term contingency for East Kent only and the other contract ceases in December 2021 with no extension provision; best value would be secured from a longer term contract providing for all of the County’s Paper and Card processing needs.

•         Option 2 – Discontinue accepting  Paper and Card waste from the Collection Authorities and at HWRCs; 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 a priority  to move this material up the waste hierarchy and to meet landfill diversion targets.

•         Option 4 – continue with the interim arrangement whilst undertaking a commissioning activity to secure a provider/s who is able to process and recycle the waste material meeting the circular economy priority outcomes which is both financially and environmentally beneficial for the Authority.

Preferred option:

•         Option 4 is the preferred option. The authority is seeking to appoint a new provider to secure a contract (for up to five 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.

As Cabinet Member for Environment, I give approval to commission and award a contract for the receipt and processing of paper and card for up to 5 years.