Tender

Paper and Card Processing Services

KENT COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

20 May 2026 at 13:48

Tender

20 May 2026 at 12:45

Summary of the contracting process

Kent County Council is seeking tenders for the provision of Paper and Card Processing Services, aimed at managing the disposal and recycling of paper materials collected across the region. This procurement falls under the "Refuse and waste related services" industry category and covers services within the UK, specifically the Kent area. The procurement process is at the tender stage, utilising an open, competitive flexible procedure. Interested parties must submit their proposals by 17 June 2026, following the enquiry period which concludes on 3 June 2026. The new contract is set to commence on 1 December 2026, with an initial duration of five years, potentially extendable by two additional years, subject to performance. The estimated contract value is £16.5 million gross, and the net value is £13.75 million.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses involved in waste management and recycling sectors, particularly those capable of processing large volumes of recyclable materials. With an estimated annual contract volume of approximately 30,000 tonnes, businesses specialising in sustainable waste solutions and innovative processing technologies will find this contract appealing. The requirement to ensure paper and card materials meet industry recycling standards also means that companies with robust quality control and environmental compliance systems will be well-suited to compete. Additionally, firms with a strong track record in maintaining comprehensive audit trails and performance data reporting are particularly encouraged to participate in this tender to contribute to Kent County Council’s zero to landfill objective.

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Notice Title

Paper and Card Processing Services

Notice Description

Kent County Council (KCC), as the Waste Disposal Authority, has a statutory responsibility to arrange for the disposal of paper and card collected at kerbside by the Waste Collection Authorities, and for paper and card deposited by residents at Household Waste Recycling Centres. Existing contracts are due to expire on 30 November 2026. This procurement seeks to establish new countywide contractual arrangements commencing on 1 December 2026. Through its contracts with third party waste transfer providers, KCC will deliver material to the provider's processing facility. The appointed provider will be responsible for the reception, handling, storage, and processing of all paper and card received under the contract, ensuring full compliance with environmental, regulatory and quality standards. KCC is currently achieving a landfill diversion rate of 99%, with all separately collected paper and card being recycled rather than disposed of. This performance is supported by an established network of transfer and processing arrangements, ensuring materials are directed to appropriate recycling facilities. Output materials must meet relevant industry standards for recycled paper and board, including EN643 for recovered paper, and must be suitable for reprocessing into new paper products. Providers must also comply with all applicable quality protocols and end of waste criteria. The provider must maintain a comprehensive reporting and audit trail for all materials processed, from receipt through to final destination, and supply accurate and timely data to KCC to support performance monitoring and statutory reporting requirements. No paper and card managed under this contract may be disposed of at landfill. All material must be recycled or otherwise recovered in accordance with the waste hierarchy and KCC's zero to landfill objective. The estimated contract volume is approximately 30,000 tonnes per annum. This figure is indicative only and no minimum tonnage guarantee is provided. This procurement will comprise a single lot. The initial contract term will be five years, with the option to extend for up to two further years, subject to performance and mutual agreement.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The contract may be extended by a further period of up to 2 years.

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-069d6d
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046469-2026
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
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
£13,750,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£13,750,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 May 20263 days ago
Submission Deadline
17 Jun 20264 weeks to go
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
1 Dec 2026 - 30 Nov 2031 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
KENT COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
MAIDSTONE
Postcode
ME14 1XQ
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ45 Mid Kent
Delivery Location
TLJ South East (England)

Local Authority
Maidstone
Electoral Ward
Penenden Heath
Westminster Constituency
Maidstone and Malling

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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