Waste Textiles and Shoes Collection and Processing Contract

Kent County Council is procuring a concessions contract for collecting and processing waste textiles and shoes from 19 Household Waste Recycling Centres across Kent, handling approximately 1,266 tonnes annually. The three-year contract (with optional two-year extension) commences December 2026 and requires the provider to collect materials from all sites, sort and grade them, manage storage and transportation, and process items for reuse, recycling, and recovery. The successful supplier must be capable of handling all material grades including non-reusable items, demonstrate sustainable and transparent waste management practices, and maximize value recovery while minimizing disposal. Providers should have resilience to textile market fluctuations with strong end-market arrangements and contingency planning in place. Kent County Council retains ownership of all materials to meet statutory waste disposal obligations and seeks to maximize income and social value for residents. The contract requires comprehensive reporting on reuse, recycling, recovery and disposal outcomes with full transparency of end destinations and auditable, environmentally responsible service delivery. Interested organisations can register via the Kent Business Portal to participate in the procurement process.