Central Bedfordshire Council is working to provide a greener solution to treat locally produced household waste across the county. Local councils need to find alternative ways to treat waste that is not recycled or composted. Government and EU legislation require that by 2020, waste sent to landfill must be reduced to 35% of the amount landfilled in 1995. Different options are available to treat the household waste that is not recycled of composted and the purpose of the BEaR Project is to let a contract for the most suitable solution in terms of both quality and price.

BEaR Facts

• We must find more environmentally friendly ways to dispose of the waste that is not recycled. Landfill sites release methane, a harmful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change
• Rapidly increasing taxes, transport costs and possible fines are making landfill very expensive
• Waste can and should be used as a resource. Energy can be recovered in the form of electricity and possibly heat, helping to cut down our reliance on fossil fuels

The Council is well progressed through the competitive selection process for the long-term waste treatment contract. To ensure maximum innovation and competition are achieved the Council has considered all solutions proposed.

Additional waste infrastructure will also be delivered as part of the waste tender, including:

The detailed solutions stage has been completed and two companies have been selected to submit their final plans for dealing with Central Bedfordshire's waste. The shortlisted bidders are (in alphabetical order):

Both bidders are proposing to deliver solutions at the Council's Thorn Turn site. The BEaR Project team will evaluate the technical, financial and legal aspects of each detailed solution and a preferred bidder is likely to be announced in Autumn 2012.

Whatever solution is chosen, waste reduction and recycling remain top priority for Central Bedfordshire and we will continue to improve recycling services and raise awareness about how to reduce waste.

BEaR Project Business Case Spring 2010 (PDF 1.8MB)

Please note that a small amount of the document content has been removed and is exempt from the Freedom of Information Act 2000 due to a number of sensitivities.

Central Bedfordshire is not promoting any specific technologies and welcomes bids from a diverse range of providers.

On 29th May 2010, a Contract Notice was issued through the Official Journal of the European Union. The deadline for returned pre-qualification questionnaires was 19th July 2010.

The anticipated amount of residual waste requiring treatment is approximately 70,000 tonnes per annum.

Bidders competing for the main waste treatment contract are also required to put forward proposals for the following additional services:

These additional services will assist the Council in accomplishing at least 60% recycling/composting by 2020.

Our external advisers have significant experience of delivering large-scale waste management contracts through PPP and PFI procurement routes.

Finance - Grant Thornton

Technical and Planning - Jacobs Engineering

Legal - Bevan Brittan

You can contact us in the following ways:

Central Bedfordshire Council is open during normal business hours. You will be able to get regular updates on progress on this number and can ask any questions you may have as the Project progresses.

If we are unable to answer your questions straight away, we will record your query and a member of the BEaR team will respond directly to you within two working days, in accordance with the Central Bedfordshire Council's charter.