Planning

Food Waste Treatment Services contract

ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

05 Feb 2026 at 18:39

Planning

02 Jul 2025 at 12:46

Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council is in the planning stage of a procurement process for a contract focused on food waste treatment services, valued at approximately £8,400,000. This service involves the anaerobic digestion treatment and disposal of food waste collected from households, spanning various regions across the United Kingdom. The Council aims to start the required services by 1 April 2028, with the current waste treatment contracts expiring on 31 March 2028. Interested bidders must submit questionnaire responses by 5 March 2026, as part of the engagement process designed to fine-tune the tender pack according to market feedback.

This opportunity can spur business growth for companies involved in waste management, particularly those specialising in anaerobic digestion technologies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that can offer innovative and cost-effective solutions for managing approximately 50,000 tonnes of household food waste annually would be well-positioned to compete. The open engagement format, including questionnaire submissions and one-on-one market sessions, is designed to gather broad insights and foster a competitive proposal environment, potentially extending the initial contract period up to ten additional years.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Food Waste Treatment Services contract

Notice Description

Essex County Council (ECC) is planning to issue a tender as early as 2026 for a contract(s) relating to the anaerobic digestion treatment and disposal of food waste collected from households in the Essex area. The required treatment services must start on 1 April 2028. ECC manages approximately 40,000 tonnes per annum of separately collected household food waste. The contracting authority is Essex County Council and any Successor Body meaning one or more entities which assumes any of the Council's functions (as applicable) as a result of Local Government Reform (LGR). Such successor body or bodies may be, without limitation, a local authority, a combined authority, a combined county authority, a strategic authority or any other status determined pursuant to the Devolution and LGR Legislation. The estimated value provided includes the extension period.

Planning Information

Potential Bidders are invited to request a copy of the questionnaire from: Waste.Procurement@essex.gov.uk Responses are required no later than 5th March 2026 please.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055798
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/010729-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services


CPV Codes

90500000 - Refuse and waste related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£7,000,000 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Feb 20264 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Mar 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 Mar 2028 - 31 Mar 2031 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Emma Whitten
Contact Email
emma.whitten@essex.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Post Town
Chelmsford
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLE Yorkshire and The Humber, TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLI London, TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England)

Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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