Materials Recycling Facility Procurement

The consortium of councils intends to award a contract directly to Pearce Recycling for the receipt and processing of dry recyclables. The existing contract expires in January 2027, and preparatory market engagement has confirmed that no alternative, viable, or compliant options exist.

Market assessment identified that all alternative Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs) are located outside Hertfordshire and would require significant increases in vehicle mileage, fuel use, and carbon emissions, alongside material operational disruption. Five suppliers were engaged, but none could confirm sufficient capacity for the consortium's full tonnage or provide a technically viable model.

Pearce Recycling is the only provider capable of delivering the required services locally and at the necessary scale. The incumbent operates a fully permitted Hertfordshire-based MRF with adequate spare capacity and has delivered the service reliably since 2017.

Accordingly, the consortium intends to make a direct award under the applicable procurement provisions permitting award where only one supplier is capable of meeting the requirement due to technical and operational exclusivity and absence of competition.