Who is Hunter Resource Recovery?

Hunter Resource Recovery is a company that was established in New South Wales' Hunter Valley region by Cessnock, Lake Macquarie and Maitland City Councils in June 1997.

This unique alliance was formed to maximise the three city councils' capital expenditure in developing an integrated kerbside recycling service. As a joint venture company, HRR is able to combine the resources of the three councils and provide a more cost-effective service, particularly in rural and regional areas, and also provide "best practice" recycling technologies. HRR now handles the management, co- ordination and implementation of recycling, waste minimisation and associated education strategies, representing an estimated 330,500 residents or a service area of 115,850 homes. The Board of Directors comprises representatives from each city council.

The service represents one of the largest recycling contracts in Australia, with the service area covering three times the metropolitan area of Sydney.

Household Collection Recycling System

The 15 year contract for the collection and processing of household recyclables was awarded to Solo Waste in 1997. The contract allows for the fortnightly collection of a full range of recyclable materials which are placed in a 240 litre Mobile Garbage Bin, or "wheelie bin", which is divided east-west. The front section is for paper and cardboard, and the rear section for all other recyclables including aluminium and steel cans, most plastics, glass bottles and jars and juice and milk cartons.

The recyclables are collected by 16 vehicles which transport the product to a transfer station at Gateshead. The material is then transferred to purpose built trucks and delivered to Somersby on the Central Coast, where the material is sorted into different product groups using a hi-tech system of product recovery. It is then sold to buyers for reuse throughout Australia and parts of Asia.

Waste Education Strategy

To date the very low contamination rate (non-recyclable garbage incorrectly placed in the recycling bin) is just 1.5% one of Australia’s lowest and a participation rate of over 99% coupled with our very high product recovery rates has resulted in this service being an outstanding success and would strongly indicate that our strategies are working.