Council considers joint waste strategy

Argyll and Bute Council could join forces with as many as four other local authorities to secure a permanent energy-efficient solution for waste disposal.

The council would work with neighbouring West Dunbartonshire for major disposal of rubbish from Helensburgh and Lomond.

Inverclyde Council and South and East Ayrshire Councils could also be involved in the project to develop a long-term waste solution, which is expected to take around 18 months.

The details of the scheme were in a report due to go before Argyll and Bute Council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee at its virtual meeting yesterday (Thursday). Council executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: ‘To support the development of the long-term joint procurement, an interim procurement with West Dunbartonshire covering residual/bulky waste from Helensburgh and Lomond and waste from the islands was proposed.

Tender

‘Operating under the authority of a pre-existing minute of agreement, officers prepared a procurement strategy and tender pack.

‘The tender was released to the market for a six-week period in February 2021. Evaluations of the responses took place in March.

‘A consensus relating to the technical and commercial results of the evaluation were agreed between officers from both local authorities on April 9 2021.’

Ms Flanagan said after the tender phase two submissions were made for residual and bulky waste elements from Barr Environmental and ENVA Ltd.

Barr Environmental was decided to be the better candidate in a deal estimated to save the council nearly £400,000.

The contract will now run until the landfill ban imposed by the Scottish Government begins in December 2025.

Ms Flanagan added: ‘Compliance with the landfill ban represents a significant and enduring cost challenge to the council.’