THEY’RE big, they’re green and they are heralding the start of a new era of waste collection for the Sunshine Coast with Queensland-based, family-owned company JJ’s Waste & Recycling taking over the region’s waste collection services from Saturday, July 9.
The milestone also coincides with the start of Sunshine Coast Council’s expanded garden organics collection service, which will see an additional 45,000 households recycling their garden waste via the green top bin service.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson recently unveiled the fleet of new-look trucks.
“This new contract and expanded garden organics service will deliver on the Sunshine Coast Waste Strategy; council’s goals for a circular economy for waste; and our goal to be a zero net emissions organisation by 2041,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“In today’s dollars, this is council’s largest service-delivery contract valued at $146 million over eight years and as with every service council provides, we have sought to offer an excellent customer service that represents real value for money.”
“Garden waste from approximately 86,000 households across the region will now be diverted from landfill, to prevent more greenhouse gas being released into the atmosphere.
“And excitingly, we will partner with JJ’s Waste & Recycling to explore even more carbon-saving initiatives through emerging technologies for low emission vehicles.
The new fleet includes one electric vehicle which will service public place bins in the community.
“We also plan to trial a hydrogen fuel cell waste truck later this year and, depending on the success of the trials, determine how we might transition to electric or hydrogen fuel cell trucks in future years as technology matures,” Mayor Jamieson said.
Monday, July 11 also marked the start of council’s expanded garden organics bin collection service, which will see around an extra 50,000 households divert green waste from landfill to be mulched and re-used.
Sunshine Coast Council Environment and Liveability Portfolio Councillor Maria Suarez said the expanded garden organics service contributed to a cleaner, greener environment and sustainable future.
“Community feedback received in February 2021 from 7,500 residents regarding the future management of Sunshine Coast waste revealed overwhelming support for expanding the garden organics service to contribute to a better and more sustainable future,” Cr Suarez said.
“We thank the Sunshine Coast community for their strong support for the expansion of this service, which is also our first step towards implementing a future Food Organics and Garden Organics bin service.”
The 240L garden organics bin service is expected to cost approximately $35 per year, subject to change.
General Manager for JJ’s Waste David Colvin said residents and businesses could expect a reliable service.
“We welcome the collection drivers currently working for Remondis who have joined our JJ’s Waste teams and will be working from Yandina and Sippy Downs,” Mr Colvin said.
“We value the knowledge and experience they bring to the new contract.
“Driver experience partnered with the new technology we are introducing to the contract will ensure a seamless transition for Sunshine Coast residents.
“Our in-vehicle system, j-Track®, provides our drivers with alerts if it recognises that a street or segment has been missed.”
Sunshine Coast Council awarded the new $146 million collection contract to JJ’s Waste & Recycling in August 2021, after a comprehensive market sounding and rigorous procurement process through an open tender, which was overseen by an independent probity advisor.
Mayor Jamieson thanked former contractor Remondis Pty Ltd for its service over the past eight years.
More information on the expanded garden organics service is available at www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/gardenbin