Wales is moving one step closer to standardising waste and recycling containers, as WRAP Cymru, acting as a central purchasing body, is establishing a framework agreement so that Welsh local authorities can procure the refuse and recycling containers that complement the Collections Blueprint.

The four-year framework agreement, valued at between £20 million and £57 million, will enable all Welsh local authorities to procure specific waste and recycling containers that support kerbside sort (where recyclable materials, including food, are sorted into different sections of one collection vehicle in a single-pass).

This blueprint specifies that the Welsh Government’s ‘preferred approach’ to waste and recycling collections is kerbside sort (rathern than co-mingling) and promotes the use of a stackable bin system (such as that used by Conwy Council) or a two box, one sack approach (such as that used by Bridgend Council), as these reportedly achieve ‘the highest rate of quality recycling, significant cost savings and improved sustainable development outcomes’.

As such, the government-funded waste delivery body WRAP Cymru has launched a framework that will establish a preferred route for Welsh local authorities to procure the appropriate waste and kerbside sort recycling containers.

The framework follows on from Natural Resources Minister Carl Sargeant’s statement in a comment piece for Resource that ‘the inherent inefficiencies of 22 different systems of collection cannot be justified’ and that ‘every authority in Wales could at least use the same colour container for the same type of waste’.

In his interview with Resource in issue 79, Sargeant added: "We've done the evidence work around the potential to save significant amounts of money in terms of [local authorities] doing things the same. We have 22 local authorities in Wales wwith many different ways of recycling - that can't be value for money. In terms of even just procurement of vehicles, bins, et cetera, there's a principle generally if you buy more, you get it for less. That is something that we should think about very carefully."

WRAP Cyrmu has said it will act as the central purchasing body to provide Welsh local authorities with ‘the tools they need to follow the Collection Blueprint and provide them with a quick route to market’.

The framework agreement is seeking tenders for the following five types of container:

Lot 1

Lot 1 is for the provision of wheeled bins that, under the blueprint, are to be used for the collection of residual and/or garden waste. All bins need to be EN840 2012 approved and certified.

The lot will include associated accessories and delivery of the bins.

Lot 2

Lot 2 is for the provision of kerbside recycling boxes (and lids suitable for those boxes) for the collection of dry recyclable materials: glass, paper, card, plastics and cans.

The lot will include associated accessories and delivery of the containers.

Lot 3

Lot 3 is for the provision of mobile stackable recycling containers for the collection of dry recyclable materials: glass, paper, card, plastics and cans.

The lot will include associated accessories and delivery of the containers.

Lot 4

Lot 4 is for the provision of reusable polythene kerbside recycling bags for the collection of dry recyclable materials: paper, card, plastics and cans.

Lot 5

Lot 5 is for the provision of food waste caddies for the kitchen and kerbside.

The lot will include associated accessories and delivery of the containers.

A minimum of three and a maximum of five successful bidders will be appointed per lot as framework suppliers.

Tenders will be accepted until 5pm on Monday, 2 February 2015.

Find out more about the refuse and recycling container framework or the Welsh Government’s preferred method of collection.