Contract 1588 and 1589 were awarded to WheelieWaste Pty Ltd. Contract 1590 was awarded to Western Composting Pty Ltd and involves the processing of the kerbside and other organics matter.
All contracts commence on 1 November 2015 for eight years with the option to extend the term for almost two years. Included in the contracts is the change over to a compulsory full organics kerbside collection from residential properties in urban areas across the municipality. Currently there are 16,500 green organic bins in the municipality and the change will add another 5,700 bins to the collection.
Greater Shepparton City Council Manager Environment Greg McKenzie said the tender was awarded to the current contractors providing a continuation of services with no affect on residents.
Mr McKenzie said a move to a compulsory organics collection will ensure Council offers a full service to Greater Shepparton residents. “A full organics collection means food scraps and animal faeces can now be included in the organics bin whereas previously the collection was restricted to green waste with food scraps and animal waste going into landfill bins,” he said.
“By diverting more waste from landfill to recycling or processing we are ensuring our environmental impact is minimised and our resources are used more efficiently,” said Mr McKenzie.
“At the moment we have a diversion rate of 43 per cent which is down from 52 per cent in 2010/11 so with the community’s help we can improve that again,” he said.
Mr McKenzie said Council has obtained funding from Sustainability Victoria through Resource GV to assist with an education program for the introduction of a full organics collection. “If residents are aware of what goes into each bin we can reduce our greenhouse gas production and convert a greater range and a greater volume of organics,” said Mr McKenzie.
“We will also be introducing an increased range of bins sizes for recycling so people with a demonstrated need for a larger recycling bin can apply for one.”
“The costs associated with the collection and removal of food organics are compensated by the reduced cost of disposal to landfill. The potential to reduce the production of methane is significant even with the Cosgrove Landfill estimated to reduce methane impact by 80 per cent with a landfill gas collection and electricity generation system,” said Mr McKenzie.
Mr McKenzie said that the conversion of full organics to compost for the gardening and agricultural sectors provides a significant re-use of material which would otherwise be lost into landfill.
Council’s waste and resource recovery strategy management strategy was adopted at a Council meeting in December 2013 and includes the move to a compulsory green organics collection.
