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Future Labs Challenge Brief: Waste Sorting and Segmentation

LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY LIMITED

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

11 Jul 2025 at 07:51

Summary of the contracting process

LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY LIMITED is inviting input for its upcoming procurement project, titled "Future Labs Challenge Brief: Waste Sorting and Segmentation". Operating within the public undertaking industry category, this initiative is focused on enhancing waste sorting and management processes at railway stations, particularly those in high-traffic areas such as Manchester Piccadilly and London Kings Cross. The process, currently in the planning stage, requires initial responses by 22nd July 2025, to a preliminary market engagement questionnaire. The project spans across the United Kingdom and targets a contract period from 15th September 2025 to 17th November 2025. As a utility service procurement, this presents an opportunity for innovative service providers to contribute solutions that optimise environmental performance while adhering to existing regulations.

This procurement presents substantial growth opportunities for businesses specialising in waste management solutions, automation, environmental technologies, and educational initiatives aimed at improving recycling practices. SMEs and VCSEs are particularly encouraged to participate, indicating a suitability preference for smaller and voluntary sector enterprises. This tender is ideal for companies that can develop scalable and compliant solutions to address the challenges of waste segregation and processing efficiency within the constraints of onboard space and security considerations. By participating, businesses can establish a foothold in the public utilities sector, offering solutions that align with sustainability goals and the enhancement of customer experience standards.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Future Labs Challenge Brief: Waste Sorting and Segmentation

Notice Description

The Problem: DTFO train operators deliver over 300 million passenger journeys annually. Those customers and our colleagues produce waste; across our managed stations we process more than 500 tonnes every 4 weeks. Some of our stations have sorting hubs where waste is manually separated to extract food and recyclables, helping to improve waste segmentation on our networks, and we are looking at scaling this out to other stations too. However, this is a time-consuming and resource intensive activity.A lot of our trains arrive and depart from terminus stations, such as Manchester Piccadilly, or London Kings Cross. Removing the waste from the trains can be a time-consuming process that potentially leads to delays boarding passengers, or passengers boarding dirty trains, both of which impact the experience they have. In 2025, a new timetable will be implemented on the East Coast Mainline, introducing more trains than ever before, meaning more passengers and more waste. We therefore need a better way of collecting, sorting and managing our waste. Space is limited on board our trains, and although waste bins are located throughout, these are required to be frequently emptied with only a finite amount of waste able to be stored onboard ahead of arriving at a station where they can then be removed.Cleanliness and how we manage waste is a key driver of customer experience satisfaction. It is therefore important that we maintain and continuously look for ways to improve the efficiency of our waste management. The Challenge: How might we: Increase the amount of waste we sort at our stations making it a quicker and more efficient process? Automate waste sorting in stations to increase efficiency and accuracy of waste sorting? Store more waste onboard a train to allow for quicker removal and cleaning of services? Enable waste sorting on trains so that it removes the need to sort in station? Influence customer behaviour to sort their own waste to reduce cross-contamination of different waste types? Educate colleagues and customers so they know whether their waste is recyclable and which bin to put it in? Constraints: What the solution must work within Onboard solutions must exist within onboard space and regulations Public-facing bins within stations are subject to strict security requirements Solutions must comply with simpler recycling legislation

Planning Information

Please respond to the questionnaire at https://forms.office.com/e/iPCttfkFX0

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-055d46
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/039108-2025
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, VCSE
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
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Jul 20254 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
22 Jul 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
14 Sep 2025 - 17 Nov 2025 1-6 months
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
LONDON NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY LIMITED
Additional Buyers

NORTHERN TRAINS LIMITED

TRANSPENNINE TRAINS LIMITED

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
procurement.services@tpexpress.co.uk, procurement@lner.co.uk, procurement@northernrailway.co.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
YORK
Postcode
YO1 6GA
Post Town
York
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLD North West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLD3 Greater Manchester
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLD33 Manchester
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Manchester
Electoral Ward
Piccadilly
Westminster Constituency
Manchester Central

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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