Decision details

To approve the extension of the Dry Recycling Disposal Services Contract (Wellingborough) for 12 months until 30th November 2022.

To agree that delegated authority be given to the Executive Member for Highways, Travel and Assets in consultation with the Executive Director for Place to agree the extension with Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Ltd (Suez) for the collection and recycling of dry mixed recycling (DMR).

- To enter into new, alternative arrangements to collect and recycle DMR: There is insufficient time to carry out a compliant procurement before the Contract expires. Note: the Executive agreed on the 18th November 2021 to commence a procurement process for a DMR contract for the whole of the new North Northamptonshire area. This exercise is expected to be completed by April 2022.

- To use existing DMR recycling arrangements in other parts of NNC: It has not been possible to secure long-term arrangements to use the contracts for other areas within NNC. Owing to capacity or haulage constraints, the contractors in these areas cannot guarantee that they can take the additional tonnage for the next 12 months.

- To cease sending DMR for recycling and instead process it through the residual contract for treatment and disposal of waste: The Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires local authorities to provide waste collections to households and the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 requires those collections to encompass arrangements to separately collect paper, metal, plastic and glass as a minimum. As the collection of this waste is a statutory duty, not collecting segregated recycling is not a lawful option open to the Council.

- To call a special meeting of Executive: Given the need to agree commercial terms with SUEZ, there was not sufficient time for a special meeting of Executive to be convened.

- To enter into new, alternative arrangements to collect and recycle DMR: There is insufficient time to carry out a compliant procurement before the Contract expires. Note: the Executive agreed on the 18th November 2021 to commence a procurement process for a DMR contract for the whole of the new North Northamptonshire area. This exercise is expected to be completed by April 2022.

- To use existing DMR recycling arrangements in other parts of NNC: It has not been possible to secure long-term arrangements to use the contracts for other areas within NNC. Owing to capacity or haulage constraints, the contractors in these areas cannot guarantee that they can take the additional tonnage for the next 12 months.

- To cease sending DMR for recycling and instead process it through the residual contract for treatment and disposal of waste: The Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires local authorities to provide waste collections to households and the Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 requires those collections to encompass arrangements to separately collect paper, metal, plastic and glass as a minimum. As the collection of this waste is a statutory duty, not collecting segregated recycling is not a lawful option open to the Council.

- To call a special meeting of Executive: Given the need to agree commercial terms with SUEZ, there was not sufficient time for a special meeting of Executive to be convened.