Wollongong City Council has locked in a major new deal for the city's rubbish and recycling services, awarding a contract valued at more than $140 million to continue operations for the next seven years.
Contract Details and Value
The council unanimously approved the agreement with waste management provider Remondis during an extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The total contract is worth $141,102,115 for the initial seven-year term, which equates to over $20 million annually. The service arrangement includes optional extensions for a further three years, providing long-term stability for waste collection across the local government area.
The new contract is set to commence on July 1, 2027, succeeding the current arrangement which was originally due to expire in mid-2024. That previous contract was extended by three years due to post-COVID supply chain disruptions that delayed the procurement of new waste collection vehicles.
Councillor David Brown highlighted the significance of the service during the meeting, noting with humour that rubbish collection represents "one of the three Rs of local government." He emphasised that while the service might seem mundane, residents rely on it heavily. "It's one of those issues... you know if it doesn't happen, you're going to get some calls pretty quickly," Cr Brown remarked.
Joint Procurement with Shellharbour
The tender process was conducted as a joint procurement initiative between Wollongong City Council and neighbouring Shellharbour City Council, with both authorities entering into the agreement in March 2023. While Wollongong has disclosed its contract details, Shellharbour Council is yet to release specific financial figures for its portion of the arrangement.
Shellharbour City Council voted to award its contract in a closed session on the same Tuesday, confirming that fortnightly red bin collections will continue for its residents. Shellharbour Mayor Chris Homer stated that the contract maintains expected service levels while positioning the council for future sustainability improvements. "It also supports local jobs and keeps skills and investment here in the Illawarra," Mayor Homer added.
Service Scope and Tender Process
The expansive contract covers waste services for more than 89,000 properties across the Wollongong local government area. Services included extend beyond standard kerbside collections to encompass:
- Bulky kerbside waste collection
- Supply of bins to households
- Waste collections from Council business sites and commercial premises
The competitive tender process attracted submissions from three major waste management companies. Alongside the successful bidder Remondis, other contenders included industry giants Cleanaway and JJ Richards & Sons. Early in the tender development, both councils agreed they would appoint the same contractor, albeit with individual contracts tailored to each council's specific service requirements.
This substantial investment ensures Wollongong residents will continue to receive reliable waste and recycling services while incorporating modern vehicles and systems aimed at supporting a cleaner, more sustainable future for the Illawarra region.
