REQUEST FOR QUOTATION FOR RESEARCH IN
RESPECT OF WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC WASTE REUSE
IN NORTH LONDON
1.
SPECIFICATION BRIEF
1.1
In April 2015 North London Waste Authority (NLWA) was awarded some
funding through the WEEE Local Project Fund to increase reuse of waste
electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) in north London. The project
consists of two elements:
1.
2.
A six-month trial at five reuse and recycling centres (RRCs) to see how
much WEEE reuse can be increased by allocating a defined part of
each site to reuse, together with additional promotion and on-site staff
training.
Funding for ReStore Community Projects to increase their capacity to
repair additional items that will be delivered as a result of the above
and the fact that they took over the kerbside collection contract for
WEEE in north London from 1 July 2015.
1.2
2.1
RRC development
The RRC part of the bid is based on work carried out by Zero Waste Scotland
on re-use of WEEE from RRCs.
1.2.2
Initially it is a six-month trial to increase the volume of large domestic
appliances (LDAs) and cooling equipment sent for re-use from north London
RRCs. If successful NLWA would look to continue with it on a permanent
basis.
1.2.3
The project is taking place at five RRCs; Regis Road (Camden), Kings Road
and South Access Road (Waltham Forest) Western Road (Haringey) and
Hornsey Street (Islington).
1.2.4
Each site has an area set aside, or a container for LDA reuse, and new onsite
signage to encourage reuse.
1.2.5
NLWA has also sought support from constituent boroughs by advertising on
their websites.
1.2.6
The Zero Waste Scotland work identified improved training and support for
RRC operatives as an opportunity which would maximise reuse at RRCs.
Training for onsite staff in north London has also taken place and included:
-
1.2.7
Visit to ReStore to see what happens to the LDA items that go for reuse
Reciprocal site audits by ReStore
Development of a training pack and training for RRC staff, including what
level of repair is possible at ReStore.
Each RRC now has a WEEE champion to push the re-use of electricals at
site, and this member of the staff has also had an explanatory tour to
ReStore. However, all staff (20) received the training.
1.2.8
There will be a prize for the site which increases the percentage of WEEE that
goes for reuse by the most.
1.3
1.3.1
Door to door collection
ReStore has operated a household reuse collection service in the NLWA area
for 15 years, however, they previously did not have the capacity to offer a
dedicated appliance collection service and especially one that committed to
collect all appliances, not just those fit for re-use. From Quarter 2 (1 July
2015) they entered into a contract with DHL Envirosolutions to provide a doorto-door WEEE collection service for north London residents. The service is
aimed at ensuring that a greater proportion of the WEEE collected door-todoor will be collected for re-use than it was previously. Previously NLWA and
DHL offered a ‘123 Recycle for Free service in north London’, but the new
arrangement means that there is increased potential for the material collected
kerbside to be diverted to re-use rather than recycling.
1.3.2
To allow for the increase in tonnage passing through ReStore’s re-use and
repair workshop as a result of the new arrangements part of the funding
secured from the WEEE Local Project Fund was to additionally increase
ReStore’s capacity to maximise re-use coming via this route.
1.4
Half way through the trial (which commenced on 1 August) the results show
that the proportion of LDAs and cooling equipment collected for reuse from
both the kerbside service and the RRCs is much lower than anticipated and
also lower than the proportion collected through the Scottish trial. The
feedback from ReStore is that whilst the items may look good, they are
actually so near the end of their life that they are not worthy of repair/cannot
be repaired.
1.5
Only eleven items have successfully been reused so far as a result of the trial;
four of these were fridges and seven were microwaves.
1.6
NLWA and the project partners are investigating the level of repair required
for the machines in north London compared to elsewhere, as well as
recording the proportion of items that are collected for reuse as part of the
trial, which cannot be reused as a whole item but which are suitable for parts
salvage instead. However, NLWA is also looking to commission a small piece
of research with RRC site users (both those who have brought large electrical
items to the site, for reuse as well as site users who have brought large
domestic appliances for disposal (and possibly site users who have not
brought electrical items with them on this occasion) to ascertain the reasons
for disposing of LDAs and cooling equipment, typical age of equipment that
has been brought to the site and whether other options for disposal (or repair)
were considered.
1.7
A replicable piece of research is required with kerbside service users too.
1.8
Quotations are invited to carry out face-to-face research in respect of waste
electrical and electronic waste reuse in north London.
1.9
1.10
The work is designed to provide an insight into the reasons for disposing of
LDAs and cooling equipment, so it is not necessary for the work to be
statistically robust. NLWA will be pleased to commission a piece of research
which provides an insight into the quality of electrical items being disposed
which can be added to the final report of the trial results.
Tender Evaluation Criteria
The Contract will be awarded on the basis of the most economically
advantageous tender with 100% of the evaluation score assigned to price.
There are no sub-criteria for evaluation.
1.11
The Authority’s decision in awarding this contract is final.
2.
TIMESCALES
2.1
In order to ensure that consultants are in place and work commences as soon
as possible, the Authority aims to award the above contract by 10 December
2015. Tenders should be submitted by 5pm on Tuesday 8 December.
2.2
The work is required to be completed with a report provided to NLWA by 22
January.


Project(s) Start Date – 10 December 2015
Project(s) Finish Date – 22 January 2016
2.3
Tenderers should confirm in their response document that they can
meet the required deadline above.
3.
RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS
3.1
The Consultant is required to organise and deliver five (5) days of face-to-face
research with users of the five RRCs participating in the trial – one day of
research per site, with the requirement that every day of research should be
on a weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) to maximise the number of site
users interviewed.
3.2
Research to be carried out with users at the following RRCs:
Regis Road, Camden
Kings Road, Waltham Forest
South Access Road, Waltham Forest
Western Road, Haringey
Hornsey Street, Islington
Research also to be carried out with a sample of WEEE kerbside service
user. The researcher(s) is/are required to accompany a WEEE kerbside
collection round for two days (any day of the week) and interview customers
of the service on the doorstep.
3.3
The research findings should be analysed and a report prepared which
identifies the key reasons for disposing of LDAs and cooling equipment,
typical reasons for disposing of items, reusing or recycling them, typical age of
equipment disposed and whether other options were considered. The
research report should also draw conclusions regarding any differences in the
above between RRC users and WEEE kerbside service users.
3.4
The consultant should interview both those who have just disposed of a LDA
or piece of cooling equipment as well as those who have not but who are
using the RRC or WEEE kerbside service for other materials at the time of
interview. The rationale for this approach is in order to maximise the number
of completed interviews.
3.5
The Consultant will be responsible for selecting and booking suitable
times for interviews to take place at the RRCs and with kerbside service
users. Agreement should be gained from RRC site managers and
ReStore Community Projects respectively. NLWA should be informed
once such bookings have been made. NLWA will provide a letter of
appointment to the selected consultant which may be used if
interviewees request confirmation of identity.
3.6
Details of RRC site addresses and opening times are available on the Wise
Up To Waste website http://www.wiseuptowaste.org.uk/recycle/reuse-andrecycle-centres
4.
CONSULTANTS’ RESPONSE
4.1
Please provide a price for the work outlined together with confirmation that
you can meet the timescales for the work to be completed. Address for receipt
of tenders:
Catherine Fairhurst
Assistant Contracts Manager
North London Waste Authority
Unit 1B Berol House,
25 Ashley Road, Tottenham Hale,
London, N17 9LJ
4.2
4.3
Questions
Any questions or queries about this tender should be submitted in writing to
generalprocurement@nlwa.gov.uk Please note that responses will be
provided to all bidders/made available on the following website
http://www.nlwa.gov.uk/procurement
Payment terms
The Authority will make one payment for the work on satisfactory completion
and submission to NLWA of a final report.