Circular Economy Trial for Northern Beaches Soft Plastics

⁠⁠⁠ABOUT THE COUNCIL:
Stretching from Palm Beach to Manly, the Northern Beaches boasts more than half of all the beaches in Sydney and a population of more than 266,000. The Council is committed to maintaining a high level of customer service to the local community.
Northern Beaches Council is working closely with the community to build strategies that enhance our quality of life, promote sustainable development and protect our environment.

SERVICE REQUIRED:
Council is seeking a quote for a 'whole-of-supply chain' solution for soft plastics generated in the Northern Beaches, including the provision of collection, transport, storage and processing of soft plastics. The proposal must include both collection and processing of the soft plastics, and detail how the proposal will ensure that the soft plastics will be recycled back into an end product for reuse (with details of end markets for the products).
Council will reserve the right to direct the successful applicant to send Northern Beaches soft plastics for processing into one or more of a designated end product(s) or process listed in the proponent's response to the RFQ.
Council will also reserve the right to audit the process at any point along the 'whole-of-supply chain' solution proposed.

To increase community participation in soft plastic recycling, proposals will include a high level Education and Communication Plan to complement the trial and be consistent with the NSW Plastic Plan. Data collected during the trial will be useful to inform the feasibility of future projects. This data may be confidentially shared with a third-party in order to assess the trial and inform future product stewardship options.
Desirable Projects include:
-Flexible and user-friendly collection system to meet the needs of the Northern Beaches community and maintain the quality of the soft plastics for reuse.
-Cost-efficient transport of the collected materials, which minimises emissions
-Project promotes active and correct participation in trial to assist with behaviour change of the community
-Demonstrated collaboration across the supply chain to ensure processing traceability
-Product stewardship model
-Local connection: Northern Beaches businesses or end markets involved in trial
-Multiple end markets and products, considering the waste hierarchy
Council may consider running different collection models during the trial (including drop-off model at different locations and/or collection from kerbside or household); proponents are encouraged to demonstrate flexibility in collections systems in their response to RFQ.