Challenge on waste contract

A company which lost out on its bid for a £3.8 billion contract to deal with Greater Manchester’s waste has started a legal challenge.

French company Sita lost out to Viridor Laing in the competition for the 25-year contract, in a lengthy bidding process.

Viridor Laing was awarded the public-private contract after its finances were rescued by Oldham Council’s former Treasurer, John Bland, as funds dried up during the credit crunch.

Now Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority treasurer, he was the first to secure Treasury Infrastructure Funding Unit (TIFU) credit to keep the massive contract on track.

Yesterday Sita UK said it had issued court proceedings for breach of procurement regulations because of changes to the bidding process. It said: “Sita UK should have been invited to submit a revised bid alongside Viridor Laing’s bid.”