Award

Materials Recycling Facility Procurement

WELWYN HATFIELD BOROUGH COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Award

17 Dec 2025 at 10:15

Summary of the contracting process

This procurement process involves a direct award by a consortium of public authorities in Hertfordshire, including Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Dacorum Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council, and Watford Borough Council. The title of the contract is 'Materials Recycling Facility Procurement,' covering refuse recycling services for aluminium and steel cans, glass, cartons, plastic, and paper and card. The procurement stage is the award, with key dates including the future contract start on 1 February 2027 and end on 31 January 2032. The contract is valued at £6,000,000 and is awarded to Pearce Recycling Company Limited, based locally in St Albans, under procurement method rationale permitting award due to technical and operational exclusivity without competition.

This tender presents substantial business growth opportunities, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and ventures interested in refuse recycling services. It is particularly suited to businesses that can manage large tonnages of recyclables and operate within Hertfordshire. Although Pearce Recycling Company Limited has been directly awarded the contract, businesses seeking to enter similar markets can assess regional demand, potential logistical partnerships, and market gaps highlighted by the procurement rationale. It also signals potential future opportunities when the current contract nears completion, allowing businesses to strategise and innovate in readiness for subsequent tenders.

Find more tenders on our Open Data Platform.
How relevant is this notice?

D3 Tenders Premium

Win More Public Sector Contracts

AI-powered tender discovery, pipeline management, and market intelligence — everything you need to grow your public sector business.

Notice Title

Materials Recycling Facility Procurement

Notice Description

The receipt, segregation, processing and sale of material collected from the kerbside by the participating councils, including Aluminium and Steel Cans, glass, cartons, plastic and paper and card. The contractor takes ownership of the materials and sells them on the relevant commodity market. Approximately 42,500 tonnes per annum is supplied by the participating councils.

Procurement Information

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.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f76d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083656-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK5 - Transparency Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME, VCSE
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services


CPV Codes

90514000 - Refuse recycling services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£5,000,000 £1M-£10M
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Dec 20252 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
17 Dec 20252 months ago
Contract Period
1 Feb 2027 - 31 Jan 2032 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Pending
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
WELWYN HATFIELD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

DACORUM BOROUGH COUNCIL

THREE RIVERS DISTRICT COUNCIL

WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
anita.awuku@threerivers.gov.uk, procurement@dacorum.gov.uk, procurement@welhat.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
WELWYN GARDEN CITY
Postcode
AL8 6AE
Post Town
St Albans
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH27 South West Hertfordshire
Delivery Location
Not specified

Local Authority
Watford
Electoral Ward
Park
Westminster Constituency
Watford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

PEARCE RECYCLING

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.

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f76d-2025-12-17T10:15:09Z",
    "date": "2025-12-17T10:15:09Z",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f76d",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PYHY-6394-TBPP",
            "name": "Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PYHY-6394-TBPP"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "The Council Offices",
                "locality": "Welwyn Garden City",
                "postalCode": "AL8 6AE",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH23"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@welhat.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PGGG-5373-XYZX",
            "name": "Dacorum Borough Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PGGG-5373-XYZX"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "The Forum, Marlowes",
                "locality": "Hemel Hempstead",
                "postalCode": "HP1 1DN",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH23"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "procurement@dacorum.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PQCZ-4732-TCLN",
            "name": "Three Rivers District Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PQCZ-4732-TCLN"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Three Rivers House, Northway",
                "locality": "Rickmansworth",
                "postalCode": "WD3 1RL",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH23"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "anita.awuku@threerivers.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PDGQ-4877-NMGQ",
            "name": "Watford Borough Council",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PDGQ-4877-NMGQ"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Town Hall",
                "locality": "Watford",
                "postalCode": "wd17 3AX",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH23"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "anita.awuku@threerivers.gov.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    }
                ]
            }
        },
        {
            "id": "GB-COH-01105882",
            "name": "PEARCE RECYCLING COMPANY LIMITED",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-COH",
                "id": "01105882"
            },
            "additionalIdentifiers": [
                {
                    "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                    "id": "PXGV-9765-TRCY"
                }
            ],
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Pearce House",
                "locality": "St Albans",
                "postalCode": "AL4 0JY",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKH23"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "DJones@pearce-recycling.co.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "supplier"
            ],
            "details": {
                "url": "http://www.pearce-recycling.co.uk",
                "scale": "sme",
                "vcse": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PYHY-6394-TBPP",
        "name": "Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council"
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-05f76d",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Materials Recycling Facility Procurement",
        "description": "The receipt, segregation, processing and sale of material collected from the kerbside by the participating councils, including Aluminium and Steel Cans, glass, cartons, plastic and paper and card. The contractor takes ownership of the materials and sells them on the relevant commodity market. Approximately 42,500 tonnes per annum is supplied by the participating councils.",
        "status": "complete",
        "procurementMethod": "direct",
        "procurementMethodDetails": "Direct award",
        "procurementMethodRationale": "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.",
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "status": "complete",
                "suitability": {
                    "sme": true,
                    "vcse": true
                }
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "conflictOfInterest",
                "documentType": "conflictOfInterest",
                "description": "Not published"
            }
        ],
        "procurementMethodRationaleClassifications": [
            {
                "id": "singleSuppliersTechnicalReasons"
            }
        ]
    },
    "awards": [
        {
            "id": "1",
            "title": "Material Recycling Facility",
            "status": "pending",
            "value": {
                "amountGross": 6000000,
                "amount": 5000000,
                "currency": "GBP"
            },
            "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
            "aboveThreshold": true,
            "suppliers": [
                {
                    "id": "GB-COH-01105882",
                    "name": "PEARCE RECYCLING COMPANY LIMITED"
                }
            ],
            "items": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "additionalClassifications": [
                        {
                            "scheme": "CPV",
                            "id": "90514000",
                            "description": "Refuse recycling services"
                        }
                    ],
                    "deliveryAddresses": [
                        {
                            "region": "UKH",
                            "country": "GB",
                            "countryName": "United Kingdom"
                        }
                    ],
                    "relatedLot": "1"
                }
            ],
            "contractPeriod": {
                "startDate": "2027-02-01T00:00:00Z",
                "endDate": "2032-01-31T23:59:59Z"
            },
            "relatedLots": [
                "1"
            ],
            "documents": [
                {
                    "id": "083656-2025",
                    "documentType": "awardNotice",
                    "noticeType": "UK5",
                    "description": "Transparency notice on Find a Tender",
                    "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083656-2025",
                    "datePublished": "2025-12-17T10:15:09Z",
                    "format": "text/html"
                }
            ],
            "milestones": [
                {
                    "id": "1",
                    "type": "futureSignatureDate",
                    "dueDate": "2026-11-01T23:59:59Z",
                    "status": "scheduled"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "language": "en"
}