A well-prepared tender is the foundation of a successful relationship with your waste management provider. Yet companies often repeat the same mistakes during the process. Here are the most common ones:

Tender documentation is too vague or lacks detail

Tenders often fail to clearly define the company’s needs — what types of waste are generated, in what volumes and at which sites, the quality of the material, how it is currently collected and transported, and any relevant legislative requirements. As a result, suppliers submit inaccurate or overpriced bids, making evaluation difficult.

How to avoid it: Conduct a detailed waste stream analysis and clearly define your requirements in the RFP.

Overemphasis on price

Many companies choose their provider based solely on the lowest price. This can lead to substandard service, inappropriate waste handling (that may be cheaper but not compliant), or hidden costs.

How to avoid it: Evaluate not just price, but also service quality, supplier references, reporting capabilities, and alignment with your ESG goals.

No clear contractual commitments

Companies sometimes neglect to define contractual terms in detail. This may lead to issues such as poor performance, improper waste handling, missed collection schedules, or insufficient data for compliance reporting.

How to avoid it: Pay close attention to contract terms and include provisions for revisions.

Lack of monitoring and evaluation

After signing the contract, companies often stop monitoring whether the supplier is delivering as agreed. This can result in declining service quality or non-compliance with legal requirements.

How to avoid it: Set up control mechanisms and regular reporting as part of the contract.

Avoiding these mistakes can save your company not only money, but also time and complications during inspections by local authorities, environmental agencies, or external auditors (e.g. ISO audits).