WASTE service contracts for Port Stephens worth more than $5 million were recently awarded to SITA Australia, side-stepping the current provider Solo Resource Recovery.
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Port Stephens Council voted to award the waste tenders behind closed doors at the October 14 council meeting, with current waste collection and haulage contracts between the council and Solo Resource Recovery expiring on June 30, 2015.
The integrity of the tender process was called into question with one of the applicants contacting councillors before the meeting to gain favour, which is against regulations.
Port Stephens Council general manager Wayne Wallis read out a statement prior to the tender vote, asking councillors to "disregard" any correspondence from the applicant.
SITA Australia was awarded the contract, as well as the $200,000 waste haulage contracts.
Solo retained the receival and processing of recyclable contract worth almost $400,000.
The council's waste management co-ordinator, Dr Aaron Malloy, said residents would get an improved service thanks to the new contracts.
"Starting July 1, 2015, residents will have the option to upgrade their recycling bin to a larger 360-litre bin for a low, one-off cost," he said.
"This will allow residents to be more conscious of their disposal habits and start to recycle more and waste less."
There will also be two "on-call" kerbside collections each year per household.
Many Solo employees will have to apply for new jobs with SITA once the current contract period ends.
Solo Resource Recovery was contractually unable to answer media questions about the tenders.