Moira Geer, director of the Winnipeg water and waste department, said bidders for the project will determine how large the new facility should be, but added it has to handle the current amount of recyclables and anticipate increases during the length of the contract.

Geer said Emterra will be allowed to bid on the project, but the RFP stipulates all the equipment in the proposed plant has to be new, with none of the equipment manufactured prior to 2018.

The new contract will be for 10 years, with options for five, one-year extensions, beginning operation Oct. 1, 2019. According to terms of the RFP, if the plant isn’t operational by October 2019, the winning bidder has to have an alternative in place until the new plant is opened.

The RFP stipulates the new plant must be constructed in Winnipeg.

Emterra’s contract with city hall for the recycling process plant was to expire in September, but was renewed for a two-year term to allow the successful bidder enough time to construct a new facility.