The ACCC has released a draft determination proposing to grant authorisation to the Barwon South West Waste and Resource Recovery Group and the Colac Otway Shire Council, Moyne Shire Council, Corangamite Shire Council, Borough of Queenscliffe, City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire Council and Glenelg Shire Council (the Applicants). The Applicants have sought authorisation to enable the seven councils to engage in collaborative tendering for e-waste collection services managed by the Barwon South West Waste and Resource Recovery Group.
The ACCC considers that the collaborative tendering is likely to result in public benefits from transaction cost savings, economic efficiencies, increased competition for the provision of e-waste collection services and environmental benefits. The ACCC considers that the collaborative tendering is likely to result in minimal, if any, public detriment.
The ACCC proposes to grant authorisation for nine years and six months.
The ACCC has also granted interim authorisation to enable the Councils to finalise the request for tender documentation, issue the request for tender and commence the evaluation and negotiations with preferred tenderers while the ACCC is considering the substantive application. Interim authorisation does not extend to the Councils entering into contracts with suppliers of e-waste collection services.
The ACCC now invites submissions in relation to the draft determination by 3 March 2022.
Further information about the ACCC’s draft determination is available on the ACCC’s public register at: Barwon South West Waste and Resource Recovery Group.