Cairns Regional Council commits to $90m+ garbage deal

A leading waste management company has committed to a $90m kerbside collection deal with Cairns Regional Council with the city dumping its former service provider after almost a decade of collecting bins.

Cairns Regional Council is finalising a kerbside rubbish collection deal with a major waste management company. Picture: Brendan Radke

A leading waste management company has committed to a kerbside collection deal with Cairns Regional Council worth potentially more than $90m with the city dumping its longtime service provider after almost a decade of collecting bins.

But it’s unclear if Mayor Amy Eden’s election promise for a “free” green waste bin has been included as part of the deal.

Councillors voted to award Cleanaway with a seven-year contract to take over its roadside waste and recycling collection services with an option to extend the agreement a further three years at the council’s discretion.

Cleanaway will collect rubbish for Cairns Regional Council from late 2026, as part of a deal set to last at least seven years.

Details of the deal were considered during a closed session at the end of the council’s ordinary meeting late last month.

A council spokeswoman confirmed that current waste managers J.J. Richards and Sons will provide waste collection services for the council through most of next year.

“The council has awarded its next kerbside waste and recycling collection for approximately 74,000 rateable properties contract to Cleanaway Pty Ltd following a competitive public tender process,” the spokeswoman said.

“Cleanaway will take over the service from the incumbent at the conclusion of their current contract in December 2026.

“The timing allows for the new supplier to procure resources, such as waste collection vehicles, for the contract and establish to their operations.

“The tender was initiated in accordance with usual local government competitive tending principles as the existing contract was coming to an end.”

Cairns councillors voted unanimously in favour of the new deal with Cleanaway. Picture: Brendan Radke

In a statement, a Cleanaway spokesman said that it “welcomes being awarded the Cairns Regional Council waste contract.”

“We look forward to providing exceptional waste services to the Cairns region which will be supported by the delivery of new state-of-the-art trucks,” the spokesman said.

Cleanaway will invest in new trucks as part of the agreement with Cairns Regional Council.

The council will pay J.J. Richards $9m this financial year, following on from $8.7m in 2024/25.

The company took over the council’s rubbish and recycling removal in 2017 after signing a nine-year contract, adding an additional 20 trucks to its fleet soon after.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden chairs a Cairns Regional Council ordinary meeting, held in the council chambers on Spence Street, Portsmith. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Eden campaigned hard for “free green waste” for residents prior to and since being elected.

It is understood that applicants tendering for the contract were asked to include potential cost estimates for a third green waste bin in their submissions.

But some councillors warned that the added service could cost ratepayers millions of dollars more.

Cleanaway also currently holds a kerbside collection agreement with Douglas Shire Council.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Mareeba Shire Council and Tablelands Regional Council’s residential rubbish is collected by J.J. Richards.

Cleanaway boasts more than 10,000 staff working in over 350 locations across Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

The company has one of the largest waste and industrial services fleets in Australia, with around 6,400 vehicles.

A J.J. Richards representative couldn’t be reached prior to deadline.

Originally published as Cairns Regional Council commits to $90m+ garbage deal