Wrexham Council seeks new waste management system to help it work ‘effectively and efficiently’

Wrexham Council is seeking a new waste management system to help it work “effectively and as efficiently as possible”.

The local authority currently uses a number of different systems to help run waste collection services in the county borough.

However, with many of them operating separately from one another, officials have noted this often requires manual input.

A speculative tender notice has now been issued via the Sell2Wales website looking for contractors to provide a fully integrated system.

The notice states: “Wrexham Country Borough Council have a statutory duty to collect waste within the Borough and need a robust waste management solution behind the collection service to ensure we are working effectively and as efficiently as possible.

“WCBC’s existing contract is due to end in March 2025, so the authority are open to looking at new solutions from a range of suppliers.

“WCBC have a number of waste services which currently sit on numerous applications, these services are general waste, recycling, garden waste, trade waste, clinical waste, assisted collection, bulky collection, new bins and equipment.

“The current system provides WCBC with ground property information which assists the waste crews when collecting the waste and recycling.”

The notice highlights that the current waste database was created in-house and requires manual input to update new properties and weekly green bin subscriptions.

Meanwhile, the digital ‘missed bin’ reporting system sits separate from the current provider and also requires manual input on a daily basis.

The notice continues: “The current ‘in-cab’ devices are permanently mounted in the wagons which causes many restrictions as they cannot be detached and used to take photographs for evidence purposes (e.g. blocked roads or issues with a specific collection).

“WCBC are looking for a digital system which can rationalise waste systems into one centralised system and offer a strong support package alongside this.

“The key services that any new waste management solution would need to focus on are collection of general waste, recycling, garden waste and assisted collections, but must have the option to cover the other areas of waste in the future.”

Among the stated requirements of the new system are:

• A portable in-cab system (e.g. tablet) rather than fixed to allow flexibility for operatives
• Ability to conduct route optimisation as new properties are added to the database
• Tracking and navigation system showing route progression and changes in route course (road closures, blocked roads etc) with real time information (incomplete rounds-property/street)
• Planning functionality for garden waste subscriptions and assisted collections
• Ability to log crew information such as bin in back of vehicle, contamination, etc.
• Messaging system to back office system and to other vehicles

Full details of the notice can be seen here: https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=NOV458724