Released 12/06/2020
Tuggeranong and Gungahlin residents will soon be the first Canberrans to benefit from a free annual bulky waste collection service.
Minister for Recycling and Waste Reduction Chris Steel today announced the award of the contract for Canberra’s bulky waste collection service, with bookings for Tuggeranong and Gungahlin residents to open from 1 July 2020.
“I am pleased to announce that Suez will be the service provider for the bulky waste collection service, set to start in mid July,” said Minister Steel.
“The bulky waste rollout is delivering on an election commitment starting in Tuggeranong and Gungahlin, before moving to a city-wide rollout.
“The bulky waste service is designed to make it easier for Canberrans to dispose of unwanted household goods, saving time and money whilst also enabling better resource recovery, reducing illegal dumping and keeping our city clean.
“Each household will receive one collection per year of up to two cubic metres which is similar to the size of a small box trailer,” said Minister Steel.
New employment opportunities will also be created through the bulky waste service, with 14 new jobs to be created in 2020-21 which will increase as the service expands.
Suez will also be introducing an indigenous driver training program to assist in the delivery of the new service.
Minister Steel said the new service has been designed to maximise options to recover and reuse items, as well as promote opportunities for social enterprise and social inclusion.
“Suez is partnering with The Salvation Army and Vinnies to identify items that can be sold through their shopfronts keeping valuable items out of landfill,” Minister Steel said.
“Suez will also provide ‘last chance Saturdays’, where the community is able to rescue items free of charge from Suez’s facility on nominated Saturdays.”
Sean Crowe, ACT Manager for Suez, said the award of the contract is a proud moment for the company which is looking forward to delivering a new bulky waste collection service to the residents of Canberra.
“Suez is pleased to be expanding our strong partnership with the ACT Government and we’re looking forward to continuing to deliver on the principles of the circular economy, supporting the local community and our not-for-profit partners across the ACT,” Mr Crowe said.
The service is set to roll out in Belconnen, Molonglo and Hall in 2021-22, Woden and Weston Creek in 2022-23 and the inner north and inner south in 2023-24.
The service will continue to be provided to concession card holders across the ACT.
The estimated cost of the service is $18 million over a five-year period.
Information on the service is available at www.act.gov.au/bulkywaste where details on how to make a booking will be available on 1 July.
- Statement ends -
Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases