Cumbria Contract News

Shanks Group PLC
16 November 2006


16 November 2006

Company announcement

Shanks appointed 'preferred bidder' by Cumbria County Council

Shanks Group plc announces that its subsidiary Shanks Waste Management Limited
has been confirmed by Cumbria County Council as 'preferred bidder' for a 25 year
contract to treat the Council's waste, expected to start in 2007.

The contract, with an expected value in excess of £400m, will use the Mechanical
Biological Treatment (MBT) technology developed with Italian partner, Ecodeco,
and already in use in the projects for East London Waste Authority and Dumfries
and Galloway Council.

Commenting, Group Chief Executive, Michael Averill said:

'We are naturally delighted with the appointment and look forward to working
with Cumbria County Council to bring the project to financial close in a timely
manner and to deliver the step change in waste management services required to
reduce the Council's reliance on landfill.

Cumbria County Council's decision underlines the clear advantages of the
proprietary MBT technology which provides a highly attractive, cost effective
solution and is deliverable in the planning arena.'

                                      Ends

For further information contact:

Michael Averill, Group Chief Executive

Fraser Welham, Group  Finance Director

Shanks Group plc

Telephone [phone]

Or

Ginny Pulbrook

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Telephone [phone]


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange