Wastewise Awarded Contract by Wigan Council for Food and Garden Waste Management
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Wastewise, part of the Urbaser Group, is pleased to announce the award of a major contract with Wigan Council. The contract, set to commence early February 2024, involves the transportation and processing of mixed food and garden waste. Spanning an initial term of three years, with options for extensions for two periods of two years and one year, respectively, it is estimated the contract will facilitate the return of approximately 9,000 tonnes of compost per year back into the network, contributing to Wigan Council’s sustainability and environmental conservation efforts.
Under this new agreement, Wastewise will be responsible for collecting and processing approximately 28,000 tonnes of organic waste each year at its state-of-the-art in-vessel composting (IVC) facility in Crewe. The award of the contract, valued at £1.2 million annually, is an endorsement of Wastewise’s commitment to excellence, customer service, competitiveness and consistency.
Bob Wilkes, Managing Director of Wastewise, said, “Since the completion of our Crewe facility, focusing on this tender has been a key objective for us, so we are delighted to have been awarded the contract. It is a natural fit for the site, especially considering its existing role in handling much of the organic waste from the neighbouring Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
“We very much look forward to working with the team at Wigan Council, providing them with a waste management solution that is both environmentally sustainable and offers excellent value for money.”
The Crewe IVC facility, a cornerstone of Wastewise’s operations, has quickly become a vital centre for local authority organics waste processing in the North West since it commenced operations in 2019. It utilises the industry-leading GICOM in-vessel composting system, along with outdoor aerated static composting and screening operations. This advanced infrastructure not only meets rigorous industry standards but also provides a safe and economically viable approach to co-mingled organic waste recycling. Capable of handling up to 90,000 tonnes of food and garden waste annually, the facility exemplifies Wastewise's proficiency in managing large-scale local authority waste management contracts.
Paul Barton, Director for Environment at Wigan Council, said, “This contract will ensure that food and garden waste from our borough is treated in a sustainable way; composted and going back into the cycle of food production, along with other exciting uses.
“By helping our residents to recycle as effectively as possible and ensuring that recycling is processed well here in the northwest, we are able to do our part for the planet while also achieving good value for money for our taxpayers through this competitive contract. ”
Over 95% of the waste processed at the Crewe IVC facility is recycled into BSI PAS 100 certified compost. This high-quality peat replacement compost is then used in various sectors, including horticulture, agriculture, and landscaping. The overall environmental sustainability credentials of the facility will be further enhanced later on this spring when the adjacent 4.1MW solar array is energised, servicing 60% of the site’s energy needs.
