Securing a new waste contractor

Since 2017, Elmbridge Borough Council, Mole Valley District Council, Surrey Heath Borough Council and Woking Borough Council have been involved in a joint contract for recycling, waste collection and street cleaning services with Amey LG Limited. The joint contract, managed by Joint Waste Solutions (JWS), is set to expire in June 2027.

In March this year, all four councils agreed to continue their partnership and jointly procure a new waste services provider. JWS has now launched the first phase of the procurement, so a contractor can be appointed and a mobilisation period take place, ahead of the current contract’s end, with the new provider taking over in June 2027.

Tender notice 

On 1 August 2025, the councils published a formal tender notice inviting potential bidders to express an interest in the contract. The notice includes both the timeline to procure the contract, a draft specification outlining the services the councils want to procure and a draft contract.

What do potential bidders have to demonstrate?

As part of the formal process, interested bidders have been invited to complete a Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ), which will gather key information about their organisation including sector experience, financial position and insurance details. This disclosure will support subsequent due diligence checks.

The responses will be used to determine which bidders will then be invited to enter into dialogue and subsequently submit initial bids later in the year.

Invitation to submit initial tender 

On 10 September 2025, the councils published an invitation to submit initial tender (ISIT) for the organisations that successfully passed due diligence checks completed during the Procurement Specific Questionnaire (PSQ). Due to confidentiality, we are unable to share details of the successful parties.

The invitation includes an evaluation framework detailing how the bids will be assessed and a data pack. Bidders will be asked to submit method statements and a pricing schedule in their tender. In October, Joint Waste Solutions will hold a competitive dialogue session with each bidder and a shortlist of three bidders will be finalised in early January 2026 to be taken through to the next stage, the Information to Submit Final Tender (ISFT).

Visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page to find out more.

Updated: 15 September 2025