Description of Conduct

On 21 April 2020, the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group (MWRRG), on behalf of itself and a group of thirteen Councils in metropolitan Melbourne (the Applicants), applied for revocation of Authorisation AA1000458 and substitution of a new authorisation.

The ACCC previously granted Authorisation AA1000458 to Metropolitan Waste Management Group (predecessor of MWRRG) and the Councils of Bayside City, Cardinia Shire, Casey City, Greater Dandenong, Frankston City, Glen Eira City, Kingston City, Monash City, and Mornington Peninsula Shire (together, the South Eastern Organics Group) to jointly procure organic waste processing services until 10 July 2032.

The Applicants sought to add four new councils, Melbourne City, Port Phillip City, Whittlesea City, and Yarra City, to the South Eastern Organics Group.

The Applicants were not seeking to change the expiry date of the existing Authorisation.

On 18 December 2020, the ACCC issued a draft determination proposing to authorise the Applicants to collectively tender for organics procurement services through the South Eastern Organics Group (SEOG) until 10 July 2032. It was proposed that this authorisation would include a condition that any of the four additional councils which seek to be added to the SEOG on a contingency basis by this most recent authorisation application will be limited to using SEOG contracts for three years.

On 25 February 2021, the ACCC granted authorisation until 10 July 2032. This authorisation includes the above condition, as proposed in the ACCC’s draft determination.  

Applicant(s)

  • Glen Eira City Council
  • Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group
  • City of Greater Dandenong Council
  • Whittlesea City Council
  • Melbourne City Council
  • Port Phillip City Council
  • Cardinia Shire Council
  • Monash City Council
  • Frankston City Council
  • Yarra City Council
  • Mornington Peninsula Shire Council
  • Casey City Council
  • Kingston City Council
  • Bayside City Council

Authorisation number(s)

  • AA1000503-1