SWaMP2008, The Southern Waste Management Partnership, has now short-listed four bidders to develop their proposals for the construction of waste management infrastructure for the southern half of Northern Ireland. 

The short-listed four are: Biffa Waste Services Ltd (with Natural World Products Ltd and Ros Roca Environmental SL), Greenstar Holdings (with BioGen Power Ltd, Strabag Umweltenlagen GMbH and Orchid Environmental Ltd), Northern Ireland Sustainable Solutions (Cyril Sweett Investments Ltd, Urbaser SA and John Sisk & Son Ltd) and Quinn Group Ltd (with Entsorga Italia SRL).

Graham Byrne, Chief Officer of SWaMP2008 welcomed the completion of this first stage of the process.  He said, “This is a strong start for SWaMP2008.  The procurement of such a significant project is a long and complex process and we are pleased to have hit our first major target.  We have four strong contenders and we are looking forward to working with them to develop competitive solutions which will meet the future waste management needs of this region.  It is vital that all councils in this area will have a sustainable, efficient and affordable solution in place by 2012.  With the appointment of this shortlist we can now begin the business of getting down to the detail of the project.”

The infrastructure facilities will manage the residual domestic waste which cannot currently be recycled, in an effort to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill sites.  Stringent landfill diversion targets have been set down by Central Government and the EU.  All over Europe local councils will face significant fines if they fail to reduce the levels of waste currently being sent to landfill.  Ultimately these fines would fall on ratepayers.

Graham Byrne continued, “While recycling rates are on the rise, it is essential to further develop the recycling culture and to find alternative ways to deal with the waste which cannot be re-used. This new infrastructure will add to the potential to sort and recycle other materials and to produce compost and even heat or electricity from waste.”

Confirming the shortlist, Chairman of the Joint Committee of SWaMP2008, Councillor Charles Rollston said, “Over the next twelve months, we will work with these four bidders to develop their detailed proposals for the delivery of this exciting and important project for the region.  The final selection and appointment of a contractor will be made at the end of 2010, with construction beginning in early 2011.”