Viridor Laing win waste management services contract

The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) has confirmed that it proposes to award the contract for its 25 year waste management services to the Viridor Laing consortium, subject to final contract details being agreed by the Authority’s Clerk and Treasurer under delegated powers.

To comply with PFI (private finance initiative) requirements, GMWDA must also satisfy the Treasury and be issued with a promissory note for £100million PFI credits already in principle approved by DEFRA, according to the Authority. This keeps the PFI contract on track for signing on 29 April.

The Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority (GMWDA) is the largest of six English waste disposal authorities that were created under the Local Government Act 1985 to carry out the waste management functions and duties of the Metropolitan County Councils after their abolition in 1986.

The Authority provides waste disposal services for 958,000 households in Bolton, Bury, Manchester City, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford.

GMWDA announced the selection of the Viridor and Laing Roads consortium as preferred bidder for its £3 billion waste PFI contract in January, 2007. The Authority's contract is the largest in the country and possibly in western Europe.

Viridor's journey began when chosen as one of five contractors announced in May 2005 by GMWDA, to be shortlisted to go through to the ISOP (invitation to submit outline proposals) stage. The other shortlisted contractors were Onyx, Shanks, Sita (currently reserve bidder), and WRG.

Andrew Kilburn, Clerk to the Authority said: “I am delighted that the Authority has reached this further significant stage for Greater Manchester, bringing a world class waste service to the region and setting a European record in the size and scope of the contract.”