The Haz Guide

A number of considerations should be taken into account by local authority procurement teams when developing service specifications and contracts for procurement of HHW services. The factors outlined below should be regarded as indicative only and contracts will vary considerably according to the particular circumstances of individual local authorities.

The service specification should state exactly what sort of materials are to be covered. This may best be achieved by listing the materials covered in an appendix. Depending on the length and scope of the contract, it may also be necessary to include a clause specifying that any materials that become hazardous by virtue of changes in legislation will also be covered by the contract.
The services to be provided by the contractor need to be clearly specified. These will depend on a number of factors, including arrangements for overall management of HWRCs and whether responsibilities for on-site storage and handling of HHW are to be separate from responsibilities for collection and subsequent transport, treatment or disposal of waste.

The contract should specify which HWRCs are covered and take into account any proposed future site closures or openings, or changes to the sites that accept HHW. Upon award of a new contract is an appropriate time for local authorities to review (and possibly extend) the geographical spread of service provision for different hazardous materials.

For collections of hazardous materials from HWRCs (which need to cover transport and treatment or disposal of hazardous waste) many local authorities use a number of separate contractors for different fractions of the waste stream. It may be possible in this way to minimise treatment and disposal costs. However, separate contracts will need to be drawn up with each of the companies involved. Appointing one company to collect all hazardous wastes from HWRCs is likely to be more expensive, but will reduce the amount of staff time required in terms of procurement and contract management.

Local authorities may wish to consider integrating other hazardous waste services into HHW contracts, e.g. collections of fly-tipped hazardous waste or a toxic taxi service.

Reference should be included to the need for the contractor to comply with relevant legislation and also to keep up to date with relevant codes of practice, guidance or statutory instruments.
The contract should specify the training that all operatives dealing with HHW should receive.
The contract should specify that any penalties prescribed by law, and any subsequent costs, resulting from omissions on the part of the contractor should be deducted from payments to the contractor by the local authority.

The length of the contract is an important consideration. As relevant legislation and guidance has been subject to rapid change in recent years it is advisable for contracts to be relatively short (no longer than five years) in the first instance, with options for subsequent renewal. Contracts must make allowance for changes in legislation to affect service provision.