Wirral bin collection: Biffa wins £350m council contract 2026

Key Points

• Wirral Council has awarded Biffa Waste Services Ltd an eight-year contract for bin collection and street cleansing, with an option to extend for a further eight years .
• The deal could be worth up to £348.6m over 16 years, securing services until 2043 .
• The contract covers refuse and recycling collections for approximately 153,000 households in the borough .
• Biffa has provided waste services in Wirral since 2006; the current contract ends in August 2027 .
• The council will also negotiate to purchase the Dock Road South depot from Biffa, with the firm continuing to operate there under lease .
• The award follows a competitive tendering process that initially attracted four companies, later reduced to a two-name shortlist before the other bidder withdrew .
• Councillors stated performance and value for money would be assessed at the eight-year review point before deciding on the extension option .

Wirral Council (Liverpool standard) July 28, 2026 – Biffa Waste Services Ltd has been awarded a new long-term contract by uk/local/wirral-council/">Wirral Council to deliver bin collection and street cleansing services across the borough, in a deal that could last until 2043 and be worth nearly £350m . The agreement, confirmed by the council’s policy and resources committee after referral from the environment, climate emergency and transport committee, marks the continuation of a relationship between the local authority and the waste firm that dates back to 2006 .

What is the new Wirral bin collection contract with Biffa?

The new contract is an initial eight-year deal, beginning on 27 August 2027, with a contractual option to extend for a further eight years, potentially running until 2043 . Over the full 16-year period, the total value of the contract is estimated at £348.6m . The agreement covers refuse and recycling collections for approximately 153,000 households in Wirral, as well as street cleansing of adopted highways, pavements and alleyways, waste collection from council buildings and schools, and related services .

As reported in council documents reviewed by multiple outlets, the proposal to award the contract to Biffa follows a detailed review and competitive tendering process designed to secure the best long-term solution for residents . The council said the approach reflects careful financial planning and delivers value for money over the life of the contract .

How was Biffa selected for the Wirral waste contract?

The council received expressions of interest from four companies for the new contract: Biffa and three other firms, according to a council report cited by the Liverpool Echo . These four were subsequently whittled down to a two-name shortlist comprising Biffa and another company . The council was then informed that the other company would be withdrawing from the procurement process, leaving Biffa as the sole remaining bidder .

The recommendation to award the contract to Biffa Waste Services Ltd was considered by councillors on the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee before being referred to the policy and resources committee, which agreed the award . The decision follows two years of scrutiny of future service delivery options for waste and street cleansing in the borough .

What services will Biffa deliver under the new deal?

Under the new contract, Biffa will continue to provide the full range of waste and recycling collections currently delivered in Wirral, including household refuse and recycling, waste from council premises and schools, and street cleansing services . The council currently provides refuse and recycling collections for approximately 153,000 households in the borough, a service that has been provided through a contract with Biffa since 2006 .

The existing contract includes dealing with fly-tipping, clearing alleyways, collecting waste from council buildings and schools, as well as all household recycling and waste, according to earlier council reports reviewed by Wirral View and other local outlets . The new agreement is expected to maintain these core services while incorporating updated performance and accountability measures.

What are the financial terms of the Biffa contract?

The total estimated cost of the contract over the initial eight-year term is approximately £174m, reflecting current service requirements, according to the council’s report as cited by Liverpool Business News and other sources . This equates to an annual cost of around £21.8m, with total annual investment estimated at £24.1m when borrowing and associated costs are included .

Over the full 16-year period, including the potential eight-year extension, the deal would be worth £348.6m . The council has described the financial structure as reflecting careful planning and delivering value for money over the life of the contract .

Will Wirral Council buy the Dock Road South depot from Biffa?

Alongside the contract award, the council committee agreed to authorise the council’s director of operations to negotiate and finalise terms for the council to purchase the Dock Road South depot from Biffa . Once the council owns the site, Biffa will continue to operate at the depot by way of lease, according to the council report cited by the Liverpool Echo .

The council said the proposed acquisition would be based on the depot’s current market value, ensuring the authority does not pay for future improvements twice and maximising the benefit of planned investment . Providing a suitable depot facility was identified as an important requirement during the procurement process to ensure a fair and consistent basis for bidders .

How will the contract performance be monitored?

During the committee meeting, Cllr Jo Bird asked officers on what basis the contract would be reviewed after eight years, when the council would decide whether to activate the option for a further eight years, as reported by the Liverpool Echo . Cllr Bird was told the performance and value for money of the service would be assessed at that point .

Cllr Steve Foulkes, discussing the contract during the committee meeting, said:

“My belief is that what we’ve got on the table is excellent,” adding that refuse collection is one of the services every individual receives and judges the council on, according to the Liverpool Echo .

Background to the Wirral bin contract development

Wirral Council’s current contract with Biffa for refuse collection and most street cleansing services has been in place since 2006 and is due to end in August 2027 with no option to extend . In preparation for the expiry, the council began reviewing its options for bin collections and street cleansing going forward, a process that included considering whether to outsource all services, create a council-run company, or bring street cleaning in-house while waste collection remains outsourced .

All options under consideration included introducing a separate weekly collection of food waste from homes, a new legal requirement for councils across England from April 2026, as noted in earlier committee reports . The government has committed to providing funding to support the introduction of food waste collections, which are expected to increase recycling rates .

In 2025, the council ordered nearly 300,000 new bins for households and purchased 15 new bin lorries to support the introduction of weekly food waste collections, with total costs for bins and lorries expected to be nearly £3m, partly covered by a £2.3m government grant . The council also faced scrutiny over service disruptions in 2024–2025, with residents reporting chaotic collections and some bins not being emptied for weeks, prompting calls for stricter penalty clauses and improved oversight of the contractor .

Prediction: How could this development affect Wirral residents and local businesses?

The award of the long-term contract to Biffa is likely to provide continuity of service for Wirral’s 153,000 households and local businesses that rely on regular bin collections and street cleansing . For residents, the immediate effect should be stability in service provision, with the council retaining the ability to review performance and value for money at the eight-year mark before deciding on the extension .

However, the development may also shape expectations around accountability and service quality. Given previous reports of collection disruptions and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman’s findings on service failings, residents and local businesses may expect the new contract to include stronger performance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms . The council’s stated intention to assess performance and value for money at the mid-point review could incentivise the contractor to maintain or improve service standards to secure the extension .

For local businesses, particularly those in retail and hospitality that depend on reliable street cleansing and waste removal, the continuation of Biffa’s services under a long-term framework may reduce uncertainty in planning and operations . The council’s acquisition of the Dock Road South depot, with Biffa continuing under lease, may also provide greater long-term control over the operational base for waste services, potentially improving resilience and responsiveness in the event of future service issues .