Firms to learn fate in waste deal race

The private firm that will take over collecting bins in a Black Country borough is to be announced this month.

Biffa, Enterprise, Focsa, Serco and Veolia are vying for the Sandwell Council contract, worth £1billion over 25 years.

The successful firm will be responsible for collection and waste treatment facilities, including street cleaning and recycling. Councillor Mahboob Hussain, in charge of neighbourhoods and housing , said: "Our overriding aim remains to get the best services and value for money.

"By law, the council is not permitted to allow non-commercial factors to influence the choice of a partner for its plans to improve waste, recycling and street cleansing services in Sandwell.

"We have published the criteria we are using, and they are technical deliverability, service performance, social and environmental factors, economic cost and commercial factors.

"By law, we can use only these criteria as part of an open selection process, and we will stick to them.

"We hope to announce later this month which of the five companies participating in our selection process will be invited to come up with detailed proposals."

Existing council employees working in waste and street cleansing will transfer to the partner, which will continue to provide services for the people of Sandwell on behalf of the council.

The council has issued a 10-point plan of key pledges to employees, reassuring them that their jobs are safe.

The local authority hopes to start the contract in September 2010.

Planning chiefs at the council have already given outline permission to an application for a new waste treatment plant at Pikehelve Street on the West Bromwich and Wednesbury border.

They hope that this will help to save the taxpayers millions of pounds in government financial penalties and landfill tax payments.

The site will handle about 200,000 tons of waste a year, and the council hopes that it will be built and opened by spring 2012.