Residents using the MI Organics Waste Transfer Station (WTS) at North Grafton for the depositing of their garden waste, as well commercial green waste will soon have to travel several kilometres out of South Grafton to the Grafton Regional Landfill site.
Last week’s Ordinary Meeting of Clarence Valley Council (CVC) was told Council is currently preparing contract documents for new waste transfer management services and that a key challenge that will need to be addressed in the new contract is the management of garden waste and commercial green waste particularly in the Grafton area.
The report said, due to the upgrade of the adjoining Sewage Treatment Works (STP), land currently used by MI Organics to process green waste at the North Grafton waste transfer station (WTS) will not be available under the new Contract.
It is anticipated that this land will be required for the construction of the new STP from around February 2025.
At this time, Council generated green waste will be managed off-site and residents wishing to drop off garden waste and that generated by commercial operators will do so at the Grafton Regional Landfill.
The waste transfer station will continue to accept general waste.
The procurement process for the new waste transfer management services contract will take more time to
complete due to the need to thoroughly investigate green waste processing options and the implications of
compliance with the amendments to the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, made in December
2023 to protect the employment of waste workers.
Council has agreed to approve an exemption to tendering (noting Council’s intention to tender in the medium term) due to extenuating circumstance.
It will also extend the agreement with Bretlife Pty Ltd ATF Tait Family Trust trading as MI Organics for six
months until 31 October 2025 and varied, as agreed with an option for up to a further six months extension, if required.
A further report is to be returned to Council following the procurement of transfer station management services.