The procurement will commence in January 2022 and a purchase order will be required on award. Payments will not be made until bin delivery in 2022/23.
The council approved plans in March to revamp its waste management strategy, which included plans to switch to alternate weekly recycling collections.
Currently, residents in Milton Keynes have a clear recycling sack for dry recyclables, a blue box for glass and a green wheeled bin for garden and food waste, which are collected weekly. Residents also have a black bag for residual waste.
Under the council’s new waste management strategy due to come in from 2023, the council will replace the sacks with a grey wheeled bin collected weekly for residual waste, a wheeled bin with a red lid for paper and card a wheeled bin with a blue lid for plastic, metals and glass.
Contamination
The council explained that the introduction of two recycling wheeled bins will allow additional volume for recycling and improve quality.
It added that paper is particularly prone to contamination from glass (especially when it shatters) and oily and greasy food containers.
The improvement of the quality of paper will assist the Council’s efforts for recyclables to be recycled within the UK/Europe, the council added.
Costs
A report which went before the council explained that procuring the contract will result in higher contract costs for the waste collection service.
This is due to the need for additional vehicles and crews, together with additional space requirements at the depot, both for staff and storage of bins.
The report added that the procurement of the bins is required now to secure the manufacturing slot and the right quality.
The procurement will also allow an option for future purchase for new properties after 2023 and replacement.
Milton Keynes council serves around 230,000 residents and recorded a 54% recycling rate in 2020/21.
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