Preliminary Market Engagement – Waste Recycling Baler Infrastructure Modifications and Additional Cardboard Baler Installation at Silent Valley Waste Transfer Station

Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council is undertaking preliminary market engagement to inform the future procurement of waste infrastructure modifications at its Silent Valley Waste Transfer Station.

The Council is reviewing its existing waste management operations in preparation for forthcoming Welsh legislative requirements that will require local authorities to separately collect and process flexible plastics by April 2027. To support compliance and improve operational efficiency, the Council is considering alterations to its current baling arrangements and seeks input from suitably experienced suppliers and manufacturers.

The proposed project includes:

- Assessment of the existing Godswill baler installation.

- Determination of the technical feasibility of converting the existing baler from a left-hand discharge configuration to a right-hand discharge arrangement.

- Identification of any structural, electrical, hydraulic, mechanical or operational constraints associated with such modifications.

- Provision of indicative capital, installation and commissioning costs.

- Assessment of operational impacts including health and safety, maintenance and workflow considerations.

- Identification of alternative solutions if modification of the existing equipment is not considered viable.

- Recommendations for design improvements, operational enhancements and future-proofing measures to accommodate increasing waste segregation requirements, including flexible plastics processing.

The Council is also exploring options for the supply and installation of an additional dedicated cardboard baler to increase processing capacity, reduce overtime requirements and improve operational efficiency. The intention is that the existing baler may be repurposed for flexible plastics and other waste streams while a separate baler is dedicated to cardboard processing.