IPSWICH City Council has reached a significant agreement with Remondis Australia Pty Ltd, valued at $67 million over up to 10 years, to process the city’s organic garden waste.
The deal, which begins with an initial three-year term, includes the option for a further seven-year extension.
The agreement marks a shift from the previous FOGO (Food Organics Garden Organics) program to a more focused Garden Organics (GO) program.
Under this new arrangement, Remondis will operate a dedicated facility designed specifically for processing green waste from Ipswich and surrounding councils.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding emphasised that this decision was part of the Council’s ongoing efforts to address waste odour issues that have plagued the city.
“This is a step in the right direction in Council playing its part in reducing the odour issues our city is currently experiencing,” Mayor Harding said.
She explained that garden organics produced far less odour compared to food organics and similar waste types, making them a more manageable option for the city’s waste program.
The new Remondis facility will exclusively process green waste, further mitigating any odour-related concerns in the area.
“The initial three-year contract period allowed both parties to plan for a move towards industry-standard, in-vessel (covered) composting services. No local companies currently offer those services,” Mayor Harding added.
Remondis, a company that operates over 80 organic recycling facilities worldwide, will manage the green waste through a custom-built facility.
The plant will only accept materials from Ipswich and a few neighbouring councils, ensuring the waste is processed in a controlled environment that minimises any environmental impact.
“Moving to a more bespoke green waste-only facility will mean Council’s low-odour materials are not contributing to, or associated with, any issues in the precinct,” Mayor Harding said.
The green waste is collected through kerbside green-lid bin collection services, from parks and gardens, and through self-hauled materials from both residents and commercial customers at the Council’s Recycling and Refuse Centres (RRC).
Mayor Harding also noted that Remondis was already a major supplier of other waste services to the Council, including landfill, bulk waste transport, recycling storage, and hazardous chemical management.
“Council released an open tender to the market with the intention to engage a suitably qualified and experienced organisation or supplier to provide the services,” Mayor Harding said.
“This is an opportunity to start afresh.
“It is an opportunity for best practice for this Council that is front and centre of people’s minds in the community.”
The contract’s initial three-year term provides both the Council and Remondis with the flexibility to adapt as necessary, with the possibility of extending the agreement by up to seven years based on mutual consent.
Remondis operates two in-vessel composting facilities in New South Wales, including the country’s first in Port Macquarie.
