Rubbish collection slowly resuming in parts of Adelaide after Transpacific took fleet off the road
UPDATE: Waste company Transpacific is gradually resuming rubbish collections after taking its SA fleet off the road following a fatal freeway collision this week.
WASTE company Transpacific is gradually resuming rubbish collections after taking its 2800-strong fleet off the road following a fatal freeway collision this week.
Tens of thousands of South Australian households have been facing overflowing rubbish bins following the decision to ground the entire fleet.
The company said it expected “all services will be fully operational over the next week”.
“We will work tirelessly to clear the back log,” Transpacific CEO Robert Boucher said in a statement.
“We have made a strong commitment to all our employees, customers, communities, and shareholders that we will operate our fleet safely and to the standards which we expect of ourselves.”
Transpacific, which owned the truck involved in Monday’s fatal crash at the bottom of the South Eastern Freeway, decided to ground its fleet to help police investigations into whether brake failure caused the accident.
The company is contracted to operate weekly rubbish collections for Port Adelaide Enfield, Prospect, Berri-Barmera, Renmark-Paringa and the Loxton-Waikerie councils.
All of the councils have posted notices on their websites warning people to expect disruption to rubbish collections.
Two people died and two were critically injured after a runaway tanker carrying effluent lost control at the bottom of the freeway, smashing into three cars waiting at the Glen Osmond Rd/Cross Rd traffic lights on Monday afternoon.
Yesterday, Port Adelaide Enfield community development director Stephen Melville said he was hopeful the Cleanaway rubbish trucks – which service about 50,000 properties in the district – would be back on the road by the weekend.
He said people were being advised to leave their bins out as normal and wait for them to be collected.
Mr Melville called on residents and businesses to stay calm and said Transpacific had promised to “play catch up” on any uncollected rubbish.
“The council has been advised all vehicles are being inspected before being permitted to return to service,” Mr Melville said.
“The company says it will aim to cause minimal disruption and has advised that any missed services will be caught up, if necessary over the weekend.
“I can understand (the company’s) predicament, as they want to ensure the safety of all their vehicles.”
Prospect Mayor David O’Loughlin said yesterday that more than 9,000 residents in his council area would face delays on their bin collections.
He said collection should return to normal next week.
Businesses in the city are also likely to be impacted.
Renmark-Paringa Council chief executive Tony Siviour yesterday said he hoped the three Riverland councils would suffer only a one-day delay to their rubbish collection service.
“Transpacific has made it clear their staff will work longer hours to catch up the backlog,” Mr Siviour said.
Rubbish services have been impacted in other capital cities where Transpacific’s trucks operate.
The Brisbane-based company provides recycling, liquid and hazardous waste services in addition to household rubbish removal.
Transpacific chief executive Robert Boucher said the company was working closely with police.
“We have provided the SA Police with access to our Wingfield fleet and workshop, where they have conducted an assessment of our trucks and maintenance records,” Mr Boucher said.
Rubbish services have also been impacted in other capital cities where Transpacific’s trucks operate.
Transpacific also provides recycling, liquid and hazardous waste removal services.
Transpacific CEO Robert Boucher said the company was working closely with the South Australian Police and authorities to assist in their investigations.
“We have provided the South Australian Police with access to our Wingfield fleet and workshop, where they have conducted an assessment of our trucks and maintenance records,” Mr Boucher said.
A Hallett Cove man, 56, died at the scene while an Ingle Farm woman, 41, died later in hospital.
The truck driver, a 29-year-old Netley man, and a Hahndorf woman, 49, are in hospital in a critical condition.