Wagga City Council has finally appointed a contractor to process food organics and garden organics (FOGO) material, to start from Monday 2 April.
However, the contract is only a short-term arrangement to provide the service while council negotiates a long-term arrangement with around 10 interested contractors.
It comes after an extended tender period for the organics collection proved fruitless, resulting in council enter direct negotiations with potential processors in February.
Carrathool-based processor Worm Tech Pty Ltd is the successful short-term contractor.
Founded in 2010 by Adrian and Deanna Raccanello, Worm Tech is a vermicultural and compost provider that primarily processes cotton waste products for redistribution.
Council general manager Peter Thompson said the short-term contract would start next week.
“The short-term contract is initially for four weeks and then on a week-to-week basis if necessary while the negotiations to find a long-term FOGO processor are finalised,” he said.
“FOGO material will be going to a composting business for processing from day one so I encourage the community to separate their waste into their FOGO, recycling and general waste bins.”
However, Mr Raccanello is ready and willing to extend his fortuitous short-term contract into a longer agreement.
“We only found out about this opportunity through a bloke in Hay, so we followed up and entered into negotiations a few weeks ago,” he said.
“We’re pretty excited and it’s a great opportunity, but we’re definitely looking to extend and secure the long-term contract.”
The third-generation horticultural farmer-turned-composter said he was determined to make the arrangement work.
The FOGO material will be transported by Wagga company Rodney’s Transport, who will bear transport and logistics costs.
JJ Richards and Sons Pty Ltd will empty all Wagga bins each week and recycling will continue to be processed by Kurrajong Recyclers.
