Even with increased efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle more of our rubbish, we will still be left with waste that will need managing in other ways to avoid it going to landfill. This waste will need to undergo some kind of treatment.
Derby and Derbyshire Waste Treatment Centre
We're working jointly with Derby City Council on a project to develop proposals for fixing and operating the Derby and Derbyshire Waste Treatment Centre.
The waste treatment centre was built using a combination of gasification and mechanical biological treatment technologies to deal with household waste that Derby and Derbyshire residents either could not or chose not to recycle.
A contract to build and operate the waste treatment centre was brought to an end after the contractor was unable to get the facility up and running. Following extensive work by the 2 councils to determine the condition and capability of the facility, a business case was drawn-up which looked at 2 options: fix and operate the facility, or decommission it and dispose of household waste using a third party.
In February 2023, both councils took decisions by their respective Cabinets to progress the option to fix and operate on the basis that this was the most cost-effective option for Derby and Derbyshire council taxpayers to provide certainty about the future cost of dealing with Derby and Derbyshire's waste.
Both councils remain committed to encourage residents to reduce, reuse and recycle more of their waste.
Latest update – May 2026
The procurement process to appoint a contractor to fix and operate Sinfin waste treatment centre is being brought to an end by Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council, and no contract will be awarded at this time.
Biffa and Thalia were invited by the councils as companies suitably qualified to move forward to the 'Competitive Dialogue' phase of the procurement in March last year.
This marked a significant step in the councils' joint project to secure a long-term waste management solution for Derby and Derbyshire, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and value for residents.
Both companies engaged positively with the councils throughout the process to clarify, specify and enhance their proposed solution to fix and operate the existing facility on Sinfin Lane.
While feedback from the process was that the technology at the facility is viable and the facility could be rectified, agreement on the commercial terms of the contract could not be reached and neither bidder submitted a final tender. Today, the councils have decided not to extend the procurement process or engage in further dialogue and will now formally close this process.
The councils will carry out a rapid review of future options for the project and a report will be presented to their respective Cabinets later in the year to set out a recommended way forward. No decisions have been made at this stage regarding the long-term future of the waste treatment centre.
In the meantime, essential preservation and maintenance works will continue. This is to ensure the site remains safe and secure. These arrangements are expected to remain in place until at least the end of August 2026.
We'll keep you up-to-date with the latest developments throughout the project.
Read our latest media release about the waste treatment facility project procurement.