The long-term waste management contracts Greater Shepparton City Council is currently considering are likely to be the biggest the current councillors handle during their terms, or perhaps ever.
Known as the Resource Recovery Collective Hume Tender Award, the contracts cover kerbside bin collection, handling and disposal and FOGO, or food organics/garden organics processing.
The contracts are for an initial seven and a half years with an option of a further seven and a half years: 15 years in total.
Although the value of the contracts has not been outlined in council documentation, during debate of the matter at its March meeting, Cr Anthony Brophy suggested, in total, they were worth more than $75 million over the 15-year period.
A recommendation was put to councillors during the meeting that would have the ASX-listed company Cleanaway be awarded the contract for kerbside bin collection, handling and disposal ahead of local firm Foott Waste, and Western Composting given the contract for FOGO processing.
Councillors voted the recommendation down at that meeting and instead decided to reconsider the issue again on, or before, April 17.
Given the size and length of the contracts, and especially given the recommendation overlooked a local firm in favour of a major company that recorded a half-year $49 million profit, the News has been investigating the process.
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