Project Transform - Background

Coventry City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council are working in partnership to deliver future waste management solutions for all three local authorities. This waste management partnership is known as Project Transform.

The three partners are working to reduce the amount of waste produced within the sub-region as well as increasing the amount of waste recycled or composted.

All three councils are committed to:

Reducing the amount of waste produced in their area.
Promoting reuse of unwanted items.
Increasing the amount of recycling and composting that is carried out.

However, even after reducing and reusing waste and maximising recycling, there will still be some waste left over (residual waste) that needs to be disposed of safely.

Project Transform aims to provide a new facility which looks at innovative ways to treat waste, reduce carbon emissions and minimise the amount of waste going to landfill.

Key Aims of Project Transform

Develop sustainable waste management solutions.
Meet EU Landfill Directive targets to divert waste from landfill.
Meet waste reduction, recycling and composting targets.
Development of a residual waste treatment facility to deliver the most cost effective and environmentally effective solution for the one million people of the Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire sub-region.

Progress so far:

November 2010 – The Project Board agree to end the project.
October 2010 – Defra announce the withdrawal of PFI credits from seven waste projects across the country, including Project Transform.
October 2010 – Coventry City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council decide to end the procurement of a new waste facility.
May 2010 – Local and National elections held. Political change create delays in the procurement process.
February 2010 – Assessment of Outline Solutions begin.
January 2010 - Procurement Process– Invitation to submit outline solutions short list revealed
December 2009 – The process for assessing the bids was approved by the Cabinets of all three Partners.
October 2009 – Consulted key groups on how we should assess the bids from interested companies.
September 2009 – Approached the open market and started the procurement process for a new facility
July 2009 – Carried out a ground investigation on the disused allotment site (reference site located in Coventry).
June 2009 – Awarded funding by the Government to progress the project.