The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management’s (CIWM) online WasteSupport platform which will match struggling local authorities with private contractors with spare capacity during the Covid-19 outbreak has gone live.
Launched today (17 April) after its announcement last week, the online matching service will enable councils to indicate where they need service capacity support, equipment such as PPE (personal protective equipment) or vehicle maintenance engineers, while commercial waste collection firms will be able to indicate resources they can supply.
The site will only be accessible to councils and licensed waste operators, who will be required to provide their credentials before gaining access to the ‘virtual marketplace’. Contact details will be provided once a match between a council and an operator has been found to facilitate further discussions.
CIWM has warned that it expects a large number of sign-ups in the coming days, which could delay the verification process. It has also warned that the platform is not compatible with Internet Explorer, and recommends using Google Chrome for the best results.
The platform is operating on the basis of regulation 32(2)(c) of the public Contract Regulations 2015, which allows the relaxation of the normal public procurement rules for short contracts in emergency situations. The government recently published guidance for local authorities on using this provision, entitled, ‘Procurement Policy Note 01/20: Responding to Covid-19’.
The platform was produced by CIWM and is supported by a range of industry organisations, including the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT), the Environmental Services Association (ESA), the Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), the London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB), the United Resource Operators Consortium (UROC) and the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).
The development of the platform was discussed with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), though it was not formally involved in its creation.
You can access the WasteSupport platform on its dedicated website.
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