CLAIRE Wales Textiles & Media Materials Reuse & Recycling 2026 Framework Agreement (MTCBC/CLAIRE/TMR03)
Framework Description
The CLAIRE Wales Textiles and Media Materials Reuse and Recycling 2026 Framework Agreement (MTCBC/CLAIRE/TMR03) is let by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council as lead authority for the CLAIRE (Wales) group of councils. It covers collection of textiles and media for reuse and recycling, is estimated at £1.2 million, and runs from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2029, with an option to extend to 31 August 2030.
Context & Use Case
Fifteen CLAIRE member councils, including Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Rhondda Cynon Taf, award their own call-off contracts under the framework. Material is collected from household waste recycling centres, bring sites and kerbside schemes. Each lot has one supplier, who must meet all participating members' requirements, and four further councils can use it if they join CLAIRE.
Scope of Services
Lot 1: textiles from HWRCs and bring sites Lot 2: media materials from HWRCs and bring sites Lot 3: textiles from kerbside collections Lot 4: textiles from HWRCs and bring sites and from kerbside collections Lot 5: duvets and pillows from HWRCs and bring sites
Lots
Framework split into 5 Lots covering different material types and collection methods (full lot names in tender documents)
Who Can Apply
Textile and media reuse and recycling companies with collection capacity across Wales. Applications for this framework are closed, with one supplier per lot, so other firms cannot join until it is re-tendered, likely ahead of August 2029 or 2030. The incumbent indicated that TUPE applies.
Buyer Benefits
Collaborative buying gives councils a single compliant route and stronger buying power than each would have alone. One supplier per lot simplifies contract management across Wales, and separate lots for kerbside, HWRC and bulky textiles such as duvets let councils match collection methods to their services.
Next Steps
If you were not appointed, track the CLAIRE framework's end date of 31 August 2029 and the extension option, and prepare for the re-tender. Build evidence of reuse and recycling outcomes, traceability of material end destinations and Welsh collection coverage, and understand the TUPE position on the current contract before bidding.
How Athena Can Help
With one supplier per lot, the next CLAIRE tender will be decided on quality and price. Athena's bid/no-bid and early planning helps you choose which lots to target and how to handle TUPE costs in your pricing.
When the tender opens, our waste and recycling bid writers build win themes around reuse rates and traceability, and our framework search for recyclers finds other council frameworks open now. A Bid Health Check before you submit is part of that.
