The Thuringowa City Council is undergoing the process of buying back its waste management services to deliver quality services to ratepayers, by establishing a commercial waste business unit. Public dissatisfaction with Council’s contracted waste collection service, led to Council establishing its commercial waste business unit, Thuringowa Waste, which is undergoing a process of buying back Council’s contracted waste services. It is believed that Council had a commercial contract for five years prior to it taking over the business unit.
Thuringowa Waste delivers a variety of waste management services including collection of waste, landfill maintenance, disposal of waste and collection and removal of roadside litter and dead animals from public areas. On 1 January this year, it also took over the recycling collection service.
The returns gained by Thuringowa Waste will go directly to the ratepayers, in the form of dividends. This will help keep directly rated waste management costs down and provide a quality service.
With the expertise of Council staff, Thuringowa Waste uses a full cost pricing model and key performance indicators to help evaluate its progress. Not only are ratepayers benefited by the quality of service it provides, but corporate knowledge, waste management skill, service delivery and a business focus will be kept within Council.
Council’s achievements with Thuringowa Waste have included the establishment of a waste collection fleet, takeover of the collection of household waste bins, and the facilitation of a best practice recycling contract for the Thuringowa and Townsville region.
For further information, contact Council’s Director, Environment and Community Services, Gavin Lyons, on (07) 4773 8430.
