Ipswich City Council has awarded a $67 million contract to Remondis Australia Pty Ltd for the processing of garden organic waste, shifting operations from NuGrow. The deal, which spans an initial three-year term with a possible seven-year extension, marks a major change in the city’s approach to waste management.
The move aligns with the council’s transition from the previous FOGO (food organics and garden organics) program to a more focused GO (garden organics) system at a new Remondis-built facility.
Tackling Odour Concerns
Mayor Teresa Harding highlighted that waste odour complaints have been a persistent issue for Ipswich residents.
“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.
Unlike FOGO, which includes food waste, the new GO program is expected to generate less odour. The new facility will exclusively process green waste from Ipswich and nearby councils, reducing the impact on the community.
Future-Proofing Waste Management
Mayor Harding also emphasized that the three-year contract will allow Ipswich to prepare for a transition to in-vessel (covered) composting services, which are considered industry best practice.
“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,” she said.
Green waste will continue to be collected via kerbside green-lid bins, parks and gardens, and council recycling centres.
Remondis: A Global Waste Leader
Remondis, already a major provider of landfill, bulk waste transport, recycling, and hazardous chemical management for the council, operates more than 80 organic recycling facilities worldwide. The company has two in-vessel composting sites in NSW, including Australia’s first at Port Macquarie.
With this long-term partnership, Ipswich City Council aims to modernize waste management while addressing community concerns about odour and environmental impact.
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