Processing of Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) Material from kerbside organic bin collection

Ballina Shire Council is seeking tenders from suitably experienced and qualified Service Providers to accept and process all Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) material collected through its kerbside organic bin collection service, at a licenced organics processing facility (OPF). The proposed contract comprises an initial term of five (5) years, with three (3) further options of one (1) year each, exercisable by Council at its sole discretion.

Council also accepts self-hauled household and commercial Garden Organics (GO) at the Ballina Resource Recovery Centre, which is currently processed by a local contractor. The scope of this Contract includes provision for the processing of that material if the existing arrangement ceases during the Contract term.

Background information / Compatibility requirements

This Request for Tender is subject to the requirements concerning waste management services in the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021.

Council requested from the incumbent service provider the existing-worker information required for the purposes of section 170 of the Regulation. Despite making reasonable efforts to obtain that information, Council has been unable to obtain access to it.

Accordingly, Council is unable to include existing-worker information in this RFT.

Tenderers must make their own enquiries and assessment of the workforce requirements associated with performance of the Services.

As existing-worker information has not been included in the RFT, the Tenderer is not required to provide any undertaking in this Schedule.

Questions asked by the buyer:

Please complete and submit "BSC5108 - Priced Response Schedule" available from the suite of downloadable documents.

In a separate file, please provide valid Certificates of Currency for the following insurances:

- Public Liability Insurance – minimum $20 million - NSW Workers Compensation Insurance - Comprehensive Motor Vehicle and Plant Insurance

Where the tenderer holds Environmental impairment liability (pollution liability) insurance, it may provide a certificate of currency. If the tenderer does not presently hold such insurance, it may provide details demonstrating its ability to obtain appropriate cover.

This insurance though, whilst highly regarded, is not mandatory.

In a separate document, please demonstrate your current :

- WHS Management System - Environmental Management System - Quality Management System

Please also provide copies of any accreditations held for these systems.

Please submit a copy of your Current Environment Protection Licence (EPL) authorising the receipt and processing of commingled recyclables as issued by the NSW EPA,

In a separate document demonsrate your experience and capability to perform the services.

Please address, as a minimum:

• the Tenderer’s experience in receiving and processing FOGO, GO or comparable organic waste streams;

• details of comparable current or completed contracts, including the client, contract term, approximate annual tonnage, nature of the services provided and the facility used;

• demonstrated experience operating an organics processing facility of a scale and capacity appropriate to the Services;

• experience achieving resource recovery, environmental, regulatory and service-performance requirements comparable to those required under this RFT;

• the Tenderer’s organisational and technical capability to perform the Services throughout the proposed Term; and

• contact details for at least two referees for comparable services performed by the Tenderer over the previous five years.

Tenderers should identify any material performance, regulatory or contractual issues relevant to the examples relied upon and explain how those matters were addressed.

Please provide the following details of the Organics Processing Facility (OPF) that would be used to deliver the services:

- name, address and operator of the proposed OPF; - applicable EPL number and the activities authorised under that EPL; - available and proposed processing capacity, including capacity to accommodate seasonal fluctuations and anticipated growth; - operating hours, weighbridge arrangements and proposed process for receiving and unloading Council Vehicles; and - the processing methodology and technology proposed to be used.

Please provide the following details of any contingency or alternative facility that may be used to deliver the services:

- name, address and operator of each proposed Alternative Facility; - applicable EPL and other relevant approvals; - available processing capacity; - proposed transport and diversion arrangements; and - evidence reasonably demonstrating the availability of the proposed Alternative Facility if required, such as an existing commercial arrangement, letter of support or other appropriate evidence.

Please provide the following details of Material Acceptance and Contamination methodology that may be used to deliver the services:

- proposed methodology for inspecting and monitoring Delivered Material; - proposed Contamination thresholds and measurement methodology; - process for identifying, recording and reporting material Contamination and Prohibited Waste; and - proposed management and lawful disposal arrangements.

In a separate document, please provide details around the following aspects of service:

- Residual Waste: Identify each facility proposed to receive Residual Waste, including its location, operator and applicable licence or approval.

- Resources and Personnel: Describe the management, staffing, plant, equipment, systems and other resources proposed to perform the Services and maintain continuity throughout the Term.

- Resource Recovery: State the resource recovery target proposed under clause 1.3.18 of the Specification and explain the methodology by which the Tenderer proposes to achieve, measure and report against that target.

- Service Performance: Describe the Tenderer’s proposed approach to monitoring and meeting the KPIs, reporting requirements and continuous-improvement obligations under the Contract.

- Commencement: Describe the Tenderer’s proposed mobilisation and implementation arrangements to ensure readiness to commence the Services on 1 July 2027.

Please provide details of any subcontractor proposed to perform a material part of the Services. If no material subcontracting is proposed, state “None”.

Where the OPF or an Alternative Facility is owned or operated by another person who will perform any part of the Services, that person must be identified in this Schedule.

For each proposed subcontractor, provide sufficient information to enable Council to assess its relevant experience, capability and regulatory standing and, where requested, details of relevant insurance and references.

Nomination of a subcontractor does not constitute approval by Council. Any subcontracting under the Contract remains subject to clause 18 of the Conditions of Contract.

In a separate document, describe the social and community benefits associated with the Tenderer’s proposed delivery of the Services.

The response should address:

• the Tenderer’s knowledge of and experience operating in Ballina Shire, the Northern Rivers or comparable regional areas;
• anticipated benefits to the local and regional economy arising from performance of the Contract;
• the extent to which the Tenderer proposes to utilise local employment, suppliers, contractors or services in performing the Contract; and
• any other specific and measurable social or community benefits the Tenderer commits to delivering if successful.

Tenderers should distinguish existing business activities from additional commitments proposed specifically in connection with this Contract.

Please complete and submit "Receipt of Addenda" schedule available from the suite of downloadable documents.

Please complete and submit "Schedule of Departures" available from the suite of downloadable documents.

Please complete and submit "Non Collusive Declaration" available from the suite of downloadable documents.

Buyer: Ballina Shire Council

Buyer location: 40 Cherry St, Ballina, New South Wales 2478, Australia

VendorPanel reference: VP514741

Buyer's reference: BSC5108

Opens: Tuesday 06 October 2026 (AUS Eastern Standard Time)

Closes: Tuesday 17 November 2026 02:00 PM (AUS Eastern Standard Time)

Supplier query cut-off: Friday 06 November 2026 02:00 PM (AUS Eastern Daylight Time)

Expected decision: Saturday 16 January 2027 (AUS Eastern Standard Time)

Categories: Waste Management & Landfill; 1: Green Waste Recycling; 2: Waste Collection & Disposal

Regions of service: New South Wales; 1: Richmond-Tweed; All Regions of Service locations are within Australia.

Tender documents: 5

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