Issue - meetings

Mr D Wimble - Cabinet Member for Environment presented the item. Matthew Smyth-Director for Environment and Circular Economy and Susan Reddick-Head of Resource Management and Circular Economy were in attendance

1)    Kent County Council had prepared to launch a new countywide contract for the receipt and processing of paper and card waste scheduled to begin on 1 December 2026. The contract would replace the existing arrangements which were due to expire.

2)    The proposed contract would run for five years, with an option to extend for a further two years. It would be income-generating and tendered as a single lot. The contract would incorporate social value commitments and include a benchmarking pricing system to ensure optimal environmental outcomes aligned with Kent’s sustainability goals.

3)    Members requested greater clarity on the social value aspects of the proposed contract. Officers highlighted opportunities for local employment, particularly in areas with existing infrastructure such as Kent’s paper mills. Officers referenced apprenticeship schemes aimed at supporting skills development and long-term career pathways. Additionally, emphasis was placed on supporting local environmental initiatives and ensured that community-led sustainability efforts were recognised and actively encouraged.

4)    In response to Members questions, Officers clarified that dry paper was more economically viable than wet paper which had been difficult and sometimes impossible to recycle.

5)    Officers had indicated their intention to return to a future committee to facilitate a broader discussion on the collaborative work currently underway with district and borough councils. Future engagement would provide an opportunity to review progress, share insights, and ensure that Kent County Council continued to deliver best value for the Kent taxpayer.

RESOLVED to endorse the proposed decision, namely:

That the Cabinet Member for (the Kent) Environment agree to:

1)    APPROVE the procurement and contract award of a paper and card recycling contract for an initial 5 years (plus an extension of up to 2 years).

2)    DELEGATE authority to the Director of Environment and Circular Economy to take relevant actions to facilitate the required procurement activity.

3)    DELEGATE authority to the Director of Environment and Circular Economy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, 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; and

4)    DELEGATE authority to the Director of Environment and Circular Economy, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, to award extensions of the contract in accordance with the relevant clauses within the contract as shown at Appendix A.