Big cash in garbage

COUNCIL is expected to award the shire’s most sizeable contract to date at Monday’s ordinary meeting, the final meeting for 2016.
Mayor Tony Wellington said the waste contract, which starts in September 2017 and will run for seven years, is one of the most important and certainly the most sizeable contract that council will let this term.
“This new contract has provisions to improve recycling, reduce council’s greenhouse gas emissions, and cut the amount of waste Noosa sends to landfill,” Councillor Wellington said.
“It will also allow us to implement an expanded garden waste bin service. This is one of the key strategies in our waste reduction and recycling plan and responds to the recommendations of the community jury process from last year.”
Councillor Joe Jurisevic said the three-bin service would see a garden waste bin added to the existing recyclable and general waste bins.
“This service will be rolled out for single dwellings in urban areas,” he said.
“Residents in rural areas and in unit blocks will enjoy the option to have a garden waste bin, just as they do presently. Commercial properties may also choose to have this service.”
Cr Jurisevic said the new contract brought with it some “exciting changes”.
“For example, there will be more recycling bins in public areas, more frequent council bin collections in high profile areas, and much better waste outcomes for Hastings Street,” he said.
“Commercial premises will see the introduction of a bulk cardboard recycling service and greater choice of bulk recycling bin sizes. Residential properties can also opt to have larger recycling and garden waste bins. So there is a lot more flexibility in the new contract and that means a better overall outcome for ratepayers.”
According to a statement from council, all six potential contractors submitted highly competitive proposals to achieve council’s waste and recycling goals.
“Many of the submitters included initiatives over and above what council called for in the tender,” Cr Jurisevic said. “This goes to show that they understand Noosa does things differently, and that we want to be at the forefront of waste reduction and management opportunities.”
Council is expected to award the contract at its ordinary meeting on 15 December.
“Innovations contained in this contract will vastly improve our waste management practices, plus deliver value for money. This is great news for ratepayers, residents and the environment,” Cr Jurisevic said.