A £7m joint project by councils in Torfaen, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent to open a centre to process food waste has shortlisted two companies to potentially run it.
The Heads of the Valleys Organics Project will give the selected firm a long-term contract to deal with food and green waste from the three authorities.
Three different waste firms submitted detailed plans on how to run the site. The two highest scoring have been selected and invited through to the ‘Invitation to Submit Final Tenders’ stage of the bidding process.
The two companies are Shanks Waste Management Limited and Viridor Waste Management Limited.
The treatment centre will deal with 17% of the total waste for the three authority areas by 2020, including 22,000 tonnes of food waste and 15,000 tonnes of green waste a year.
The councils aim to reach the preferred bidder stage in September 2012 – at this stage they will know the sites and technologies to be used.
Caerphilly Councillor Colin Mann, Chairman of the Joint Committee, said: “The project has undertaken a broad evaluation of the solutions received.
“This included the technical solution, service delivery, environmental impacts and planning and permitting of their solution.
“It is important that we ensure the remaining participants are able to meet the requirements of the Authorities, achieve the relevant Environment Agency standards and assist in meeting the targets set out by the Welsh Government.”
For information on the project visit www.hovwasteprogramme.org.uk