The challenge
Proterra Group was awarded the Mundubbera Waste Management Facility contract in late 2022. The facility is the principal waste facility for Council and the only landfill in the Region.
The site sits on 59 acres of cleared freehold land owned by the North Burnett Regional Council, south of the Burnett River and about 2.5km by road from the centre of Mundubbera township. To date, only the eastern third of the site, approximately 22 acres, has been developed for waste management. This development includes security fencing, a weighbridge, site buildings, stockpiles for recyclables, a landfill cell for municipal solid waste (MSW) and a dam in the south-east corner.
The site accepts a wide range of waste, including:
- Domestic, commercial and industrial waste
- Domestic clean-up and construction waste
- Garden waste
- Putrescible and solid inert waste
- Certain regulated waste
Our solution
We put a clear, structured operation in place that covers every step of a load’s journey through the site, from the gatehouse to the landfill face and the recycling stockpiles. Our local site team inspects incoming loads, directs customers to the right drop-off point and keeps the facility running to a consistent daily routine. Alongside this, we manage the environmental side of the site so that it stays safe, tidy and compliant.
Our daily operations at Mundubbera include:
- Receiving and inspecting loads of waste and recyclable materials entering the site
- Collecting Council Fees and Charges at the gatehouse
- Directing customers to the drop-off areas, transfer station or landfill active face
- Inspecting loads to make sure no prohibited waste is disposed of
- Prohibiting scavenging
- Filling and compacting waste in the landfill cells
- Managing windblown litter
- Managing the bulk stockpile area for green waste, scrap steel, concrete and other materials as required
- Coordinating the handling, processing and on or off-site resource recovery of scrap metals, concrete, waste oil, household hazardous wastes and other materials
- Coordinating and managing the periodic mulching of green waste
- Managing the environmental performance of the site, including sediment and erosion control, dust suppression, noise control, the leachate management system, odour, pest and vermin control, and minimising uncontrolled release of landfill gas
- Managing vegetation, including mowing and slashing of all grassed areas, weed control and maintenance of all trees, shrubs and garden beds
The benefit
Council gains an experienced operator that looks after the whole site, from customer service and fee collection to resource recovery and environmental management. Having one team responsible for these tasks means clear accountability, consistent communication and a joined-up approach to compliance.
For the community, the facility is run safely and reliably, with waste correctly sorted, recyclable materials recovered where possible and environmental impacts kept under control. Because only about a third of the site has been developed so far, good day-to-day management also helps make the most of the space available.
The result
Proterra has brought dependable supervision and environmental oversight to the only landfill in the Region. Loads are inspected, prohibited waste is kept out, resources are recovered and the site is maintained to a high standard, giving Council and the community confidence that their waste is being managed responsibly.
