Provision of handling Equipment at Powys County Council Waste Transfer Sites

Background

Powys County Council is seeking to engage with suppliers in the materials handling market, as part of pre-tender engagement exercise to gain information to inform an upcoming procurement for the provision of Waste Handling Plant Equipment. The Council operates three Waste Transfer Sites (WTS) across the County of Powys; located in Abermule, Rhayader and on the out-skirts of Brecon. The current ‘fleet’ is of considerable age, some of which is beyond economical repair which has led to the requirement for spot hire to fulfil materials handling requirements.

The Council is currently reviewing options of outright purchase, contract hire or lease of equipment to fulfil the materials handling requirements at WTS sites in the long-term.

Current Situation

At present, the Council operate the following machines:

Brecon:

- JCB Wastemaster 541-70

- JCB Wastemaster 542-70

- JCB Teletruk – rotating forks

Rhayader:

- JCB Wastemaster 542-70

- Manitou MT625H

- JCB Teletruk – rotating forks

Abermule:

- JCB Wastemaster 542-70

- JCB Wastemaster

- JCB Teletruk – rotating forks

The machines load a variety of materials including, but not limited to;

- Loose refuse

- Loose plastic

- Bagged / loose food waste

- Green waste

- Paper/card

- Loose glass

The Council operate a fleet of Romaquip Kerb-Sort recycling vehicles, to allow staff at WTSs to empty the food waste compartments, the Council utilise JCT Tele-trucks with rotating fork attachments. On the small 7.5 tonne and 3.5 metre wheelbase variant of the Romaquip vehicles, the food pods must be lifted from the vehicle and the load rotated into a strategic storage container; on the larger vehicles the food pods are manually removed from the vehicle, collected and emptied into the static container.

Baled plastic, steel and aluminium is unloaded at the WTS and transported elsewhere for reuse, the machines therefore must be have the ability to load these bales onto a curtain sided articulated trailer located at the WTS sites.

Loose plastics are loaded into a high sided (rigid bodied) trailer, currently using a 541-7 / 542-70 telehandler fitted with a large capacity grab bucket. There are then transported to recycling plants outside of the county.

Due to the environments in which the machines are operating and the attraction of vermin, the machine must be protected by armoured cables where possible. The presence of glass means that solid tyres are also mandatory within the specification.

Due to past Health and Safety concerns, the machines must NOT have landing legs.

- Additional attachments include:

- Sweeper bucket

- Grab bucket

Maintenance

As Waste and Recycling is a statutory service, it is important downtime is reduced. At this moment in time, the Council’s preferred option would be to lease machines with a repair and maintenance package, however this will be dependant on cost.

Regardless of procurement option, the Council would like to explore maintenance packages and extended warranties. To reduce downtime, the Council would be interested in technology that allows the supplier a ‘live view’ of machine faults and diagnosis to reduce downtime by being able to bring replacement parts direct to site.