Waste JV wins Rio contract

A joint venture established by global waste management company Veolia and indigenous partner Our Country has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract covering Rio Tinto’s entire Pilbara iron ore operations.

North West Alliance will provide waste management services across Rio Tinto’s 16 mine sites and two ports in the Pilbara, replacing more than a dozen incumbent suppliers.

Rio said consolidating to a single waste management supplier would improve logistical efficiency, reduce associated environmental impacts, and further drive the focus on safety performance.

NWA was established in 2013 by Veolia and Our Country, which was founded by Palyku traditional owner Blaze Kwaymullina.

The business currently has 30 staff, servicing contracts with Woodside Petroleum, BHP Billiton’s iron ore and petroleum businesses, Roy Hill Holdings and Quadrant Energy.

Mr Kwaymullina said he expected NWA would taken on 20 extra staff to service the Rio contract.

Under the Rio contract, NWA is targeting 40 per cent Pilbara Aboriginal employment in 2018, increasing to 50 per cent in 2019, which is the level it has already achieved for its other contracts.

The business has also committed to a target of a 100 per cent Pilbara residential workforce by 2020.

The Rio contract includes the opening of a new depot at Tom Price in partnership with Gumala Enterprises.

Mr Kwaymullina said NWA already has depots at Karratha, Newman and Port Hedland.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore managing director, rail, port and core services, Ivan Vella said the partnership with North West Alliance would provide opportunities for local communities and their businesses.

“Optimising the way we manage our waste is a key part of our business-wide effort to improve safety and productivity outcomes,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to working with North West Alliance to further improve our safety and environmental performance, and to maximise engagement of local and Pilbara Aboriginal people as well as local businesses in the communities where we operate.”