Government expects a surge in recycling in the next three years, according to a recently published request for quotation.

The RFQ, published on Monday, said the Ministry of Public Works was looking for a service provider for recycling collection services including “blue bag” collection across the island.

The RFQ documents state that the quantity of recyclable materials that need to be collected will vary, but are expected to increase as the Government pushes to educate the public about recycling.

The documents also state that it is “probable” the Government will put forward legislation to “mandate recycling” within the three-year contract period.

The current average “set out rate” for blue bag recyclables was estimated to be about 18 to 20 tonnes per week.

But the documents estimated that the first year of the contract would involve the collection of between 20 and 35 tonnes of recyclables, with that number increasing to between 55 and 65 tonnes by the third year.

A previous RFQ for the collection of recyclables, published in December 2018, contained the same figures.

Companies who put forward quotations would be expected to collect from “households, rest homes, all private and public schools, Government workplaces, public docks, public parks and approximately 80 dual purpose bus stop bins, and Government-operated facilities outside the Corporation of Hamilton, including BLDC and Wedco properties”.

The contractor may also be allowed to collect recyclable materials from commercial entities “at no cost to the Ministry” provided that the Ministry is advised.

The RFQ added: “The work included in this contract comprises requires the contract to provide vehicles and operating staff to provide the recycling collection and telephone service for customers complaints to the standard required by the Government.

“All collected material to be delivered to the Material Recovery Facility located at the Government quarry depot located in Baileys Bay.”

The contractor would be required to maintain the current recycling collection schedule and pick up materials between 7.30am and 4pm.

The submission deadline for quotations is 3pm on August 11 with the anticipated execution of the agreement to take place on September 1.