Council announces major waste contract D-day

By Murray Silby

Apr 3, 2023

Much to ponder: Councillors will make a decision on a 15-year waste and recycling contract on Tuesday, April 11. Photo by AAP

Greater Shepparton City Council says it will make a decision on a multimillion-dollar, 15-year waste and recycling contract on Tuesday, April 11.

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Councillors voted down a recommendation during council’s March meeting that it award ASX-listed Cleanaway the contract for the kerbside bin collection, handling and disposal for a period of seven and a half years, with an option to extend for a further seven and a half years.

The recommendation would also have awarded Western Composting the food organics and garden organics processing contract for an initial period of seven and a half years, with an option to extend for a further seven and a half years.

In total, the contracts are said to be worth more than $75 million over the 15-year period.

Instead, councillors voted to reconsider the recommendation on or before April 17 so they could consider more information.

They will now meet at 9am on Tuesday, April 11 to make their decision.

Council officers had recommended Cleanaway ahead of local company Foott Waste, despite the larger firm struggling to fulfil a waste collection contract for Hobsons Bay City Council in Melbourne, being engaged in industrial disputes with workers in other jurisdictions and having been convicted of environmental offences in NSW.