Hunter Resource Recovery (sorting and processing)

Hunter Resource Recovery, on behalf of itself, its Member Councils, (Cessnock City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Maitland City Council and Singleton Shire Council), and each of Dungog Shire Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council and Upper Hunter Shire Council, is seeking authorisation for 25 years to jointly procure (through a tender process) and contract for the establishment of a recycling processing and sorting facility.

Hunter Resource Recovery has also sought interim authorisation for the proposed conduct to enable it to commence the process.

A Materials Recycling Facility is a specialised facility that receives, separates and prepares recyclable materials for marketing to end-user manufacturers.

Related application

Hunter Resource Recovery on behalf of itself and its Member Councils, (Cessnock City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Maitland City Council and Singleton Shire Council), has also sought authorisation for 12 years to jointly procure (through a tender process) and contract for kerbside dry recyclate collection in each Member Council’s Local Government Area.

Please see related public register page AA1000648.

These two related applications by Hunter Resource Recovery are being managed and assessed simultaneously by the ACCC. All documents relating to both authorisation applications AA1000647 and AA1000648 will be made available on this public register page.

On 31 January 2024, the ACCC issued a determination granting authorisation to Hunter Resource Recovery:

1. to enable Hunter Resource Recovery, its member councils, Cessnock City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Maitland City Council and Singleton Shire Council, and each of the regional councils of Dungog Shire Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council and Upper Hunter Shire Council to jointly procure and contract for the establishment of a recycling processing and sorting facility, for 27 years; and
2. to enable Hunter Resource Recovery, and its member councils, Cessnock City Council, Lake Macquarie City Council, Maitland City Council and Singleton Shire Council, to jointly procure and contract for kerbside dry recyclate collection in each Council’s Local Government Area, for 14 years.

A copy of the final determination is below.