Planning

Dry Recycling Services

ARC21

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

28 Apr 2026 at 15:24

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The procurement process initiated by arc21, a local government waste management group in Northern Ireland, involves planning for dry recycling services. The industry category covers a range of refuse and waste-related services. This preliminary market engagement seeks to gather private sector input, with a specific focus on refining the requirements and procurement strategy ahead of the renewal of contracts expiring in September 2026. Interested parties are urged to submit their responses by 17:00 on Monday, 11 May 2026, via the eTendersNI platform. The engagement and subsequent discussions are pivotal to shaping the future contracts that may introduce new target materials, taking into account the legal and operative frameworks governed by Northern Irish devolved regulations.

This procurement presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in waste management and recycling services by allowing them to potentially secure contracts with arc21 and its constituent councils. Companies with expertise in refuse processing, disposal, and recycling are particularly well-suited to benefit from the upcoming contracts, which promise to be instrumental in the region's sustainability efforts. With an emphasis on collaboration to identify the best operational practices, companies can leverage their innovative solutions and environmentally friendly techniques to stand out during the engagement phase. This interaction with arc21 could pave the way for businesses to expand their footprint in the Northern Irish environmental services market.

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

Notice Information

Notice Title

Dry Recycling Services

Notice Description

arc21 is a local government waste management group based in Northern Ireland, who act as a contracting entity, procuring and managing waste contracts, on behalf of its constituent councils. The constituent councils are Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. In 2019, arc21 awarded contracts for the receipt, transfer, processing and brokerage of dry recyclable materials. In 2025/26 circa 44,000 tonnes of dry dry recyclable materials were accepted through these contracts. The current contracts are due to expire at the end of September 2026 and the purpose of conducting this preliminary market engagement is to obtain the views of potential private sector partners on the key issues involved in procuring replacement services for the acceptance, processing (if applicable) and marketing of dry recyclable waste arisings once the current contracts expire. There is the possibility that these replacement contracts may include new core target materials. The dates relating to the contract and extension periods contained within this notice are not fixed and the ultimate contract and extension dates will be informed by this market engagement exercise. The engagement is intended to help shape arc21's requirements and procurement strategy. Please note that the market engagement exercise will not seek views on how the waste is collected as this decision falls outside arc21's remit and rests with each council. It is anticipated that those collection arrangements will continue to vary both between, and on occasions within, council areas.

Planning Information

An Information Memorandum and Questionnaire have been prepared and interested parties are asked to submit responses to the questions posed by 17:00hrs on Monday 11 May 2026 following which those who have participated will have the opportunity to meet with the Authority and their consultants to discuss their response. Further details are provided in the Information Memorandum. Any interested parties are required to submit their response through the eTendersNI secure messaging area of the Call for Tender (CfT) Ref: 6460104. All correspondence in relation to this Pre-Market Engagement exercise must be communicated via the eTendersNI secure messaging area. To register on eTendersNI and access the Information Memorandum and Questionnaire, please use the following link https://etendersni.gov.uk and locate CfT Ref: 6460104. Interested parties should also note that any interest shown does not constitute a commitment to participate in any future tendering exercise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-068d32
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038787-2026
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
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

90000000 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

90500000 - Refuse and waste related services

90510000 - Refuse disposal and treatment

90511000 - Refuse collection services

90514000 - Refuse recycling services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
28 Apr 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
11 May 20265 days to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
30 Sep 2026 - 30 Sep 2029 3-4 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
ARC21
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT15 5GR
Post Town
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Cavehill
Westminster Constituency
Belfast North

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. 

{
    "tag": [
        "compiled"
    ],
    "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068d32-2026-04-28T16:24:37+01:00",
    "date": "2026-04-28T16:24:37+01:00",
    "ocid": "ocds-h6vhtk-068d32",
    "initiationType": "tender",
    "parties": [
        {
            "id": "GB-PPON-PVPN-6929-HZXG",
            "name": "arc21",
            "identifier": {
                "scheme": "GB-PPON",
                "id": "PVPN-6929-HZXG"
            },
            "address": {
                "streetAddress": "Belfast Castle, Antrim Road",
                "locality": "Belfast",
                "postalCode": "BT15 5GR",
                "country": "GB",
                "countryName": "United Kingdom",
                "region": "UKN06"
            },
            "contactPoint": {
                "email": "info@arc21.org.uk"
            },
            "roles": [
                "buyer"
            ],
            "details": {
                "classifications": [
                    {
                        "id": "publicAuthoritySubCentralGovernment",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_TYPE",
                        "description": "Public authority - sub-central government"
                    },
                    {
                        "id": "GB-NIR",
                        "scheme": "UK_CA_DEVOLVED_REGULATIONS",
                        "description": "Northern Irish devolved regulations apply"
                    }
                ]
            }
        }
    ],
    "buyer": {
        "id": "GB-PPON-PVPN-6929-HZXG",
        "name": "arc21"
    },
    "planning": {
        "milestones": [
            {
                "id": "engagement",
                "type": "engagement",
                "description": "An Information Memorandum and Questionnaire have been prepared and interested parties are asked to submit responses to the questions posed by 17:00hrs on Monday 11 May 2026 following which those who have participated will have the opportunity to meet with the Authority and their consultants to discuss their response. Further details are provided in the Information Memorandum. Any interested parties are required to submit their response through the eTendersNI secure messaging area of the Call for Tender (CfT) Ref: 6460104. All correspondence in relation to this Pre-Market Engagement exercise must be communicated via the eTendersNI secure messaging area. To register on eTendersNI and access the Information Memorandum and Questionnaire, please use the following link https://etendersni.gov.uk and locate CfT Ref: 6460104. Interested parties should also note that any interest shown does not constitute a commitment to participate in any future tendering exercise.",
                "dueDate": "2026-05-11T23:59:59+01:00",
                "status": "scheduled"
            }
        ],
        "documents": [
            {
                "id": "038787-2026",
                "documentType": "marketEngagementNotice",
                "noticeType": "UK2",
                "description": "Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender",
                "url": "https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/038787-2026",
                "datePublished": "2026-04-28T16:24:37+01:00",
                "format": "text/html"
            }
        ]
    },
    "tender": {
        "id": "ocds-h6vhtk-068d32",
        "legalBasis": {
            "id": "2023/54",
            "scheme": "UKPGA",
            "uri": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents"
        },
        "title": "Dry Recycling Services",
        "description": "arc21 is a local government waste management group based in Northern Ireland, who act as a contracting entity, procuring and managing waste contracts, on behalf of its constituent councils. The constituent councils are Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, Ards and North Down Borough Council, Belfast City Council, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. In 2019, arc21 awarded contracts for the receipt, transfer, processing and brokerage of dry recyclable materials. In 2025/26 circa 44,000 tonnes of dry dry recyclable materials were accepted through these contracts. The current contracts are due to expire at the end of September 2026 and the purpose of conducting this preliminary market engagement is to obtain the views of potential private sector partners on the key issues involved in procuring replacement services for the acceptance, processing (if applicable) and marketing of dry recyclable waste arisings once the current contracts expire. There is the possibility that these replacement contracts may include new core target materials. The dates relating to the contract and extension periods contained within this notice are not fixed and the ultimate contract and extension dates will be informed by this market engagement exercise. The engagement is intended to help shape arc21's requirements and procurement strategy. Please note that the market engagement exercise will not seek views on how the waste is collected as this decision falls outside arc21's remit and rests with each council. It is anticipated that those collection arrangements will continue to vary both between, and on occasions within, council areas.",
        "items": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "additionalClassifications": [
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "90000000",
                        "description": "Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "90500000",
                        "description": "Refuse and waste related services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "90510000",
                        "description": "Refuse disposal and treatment"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "90511000",
                        "description": "Refuse collection services"
                    },
                    {
                        "scheme": "CPV",
                        "id": "90514000",
                        "description": "Refuse recycling services"
                    }
                ],
                "relatedLot": "1"
            }
        ],
        "value": {
            "amountGross": 0,
            "amount": 0,
            "currency": "GBP"
        },
        "mainProcurementCategory": "services",
        "aboveThreshold": false,
        "lots": [
            {
                "id": "1",
                "contractPeriod": {
                    "startDate": "2026-10-01T00:00:00+01:00",
                    "endDate": "2029-09-30T23:59:59+01:00",
                    "maxExtentDate": "2033-09-30T23:59:59+01:00"
                },
                "hasRenewal": true,
                "status": "planning"
            }
        ],
        "status": "planning"
    },
    "language": "en"
}