PROFILE
Collaborative vision for Melbourne’s waste WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW CATCHES UP WITH OUTGOING METROPOLITAN WASTE AND RESOURCE RECOVERY CEO ROB MILLARD ON HIS MORE THAN 30YEAR CAREER IN BUILDING VICTORIA’S RECYCLING NETWORK.
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hether you’re a “garbo”, a councillor or an engineer, the waste sector has for many been a career for life. The industry’s evolution from collection and sorting to landfill diversion has meant the opportunities for career development over the past few decades have been immense. Yet none of this would have happened if the industry had remained risk averse and it is the ability to continually learn from its mistakes that inspires outgoing Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery (MWRRG) CEO Rob Millard. Earlier this year, Rob announced his retirement, with Jillian Riseley appointed as the new CEO. After several months of volatility with the financial collapse of SKM Recycling, green shoots are emerging with a clean-up underway and Cleanaway acquiring the group’s senior secured debt. Just like the fallout from an initial foray into organics recycling 10 years ago by the Coldstream Eastern Group, Rob believes that difficult times present an opportunity to regroup. “Good things can come out of issues such as that and when you have drama you have to maximise learning and move forward,” Rob explains. He says that government
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Rob celebrates Back to Earth competition winners at Livingstone Primary School.
stakeholders and the broader waste sector can regroup and refine the kerbside recycling scheme and its supporting processes. “The key will be understanding what opportunities are in place over the next six to nine months to review how we collect and sort materials and ensure new contracts embrace future opportunities. “It could be new bins such as a separate glass bin, it could be a container deposit scheme. Victoria needs to consider all the viable options and discuss them rather than going in with eyes half open.” Its this indomitable spirit that drove Rob in his more than 30-year career across local government and MWRRG. Coming from a civil engineer and
technical background, Rob’s local government career began with the City of Moorabbin in 1977. It was here that Rob dipped his toe into management waters before moving into the City of Banyule in the 80s. His achievements during this time spanned the introduction of a three-bin system following the amalgamation of the three councils Heidelberg, Diamond Valley and the former Nillumbik Shire Council. “All had different waste collections so we introduced a three-bin system for new councils and implemented a green waste recycling program which was quite progressive for its time,” he says. Rob also oversaw the upgrade of the council’s transfer station and built a materials recovery facility in
