Dean Wanless of Wanless Waste Management outlines his long-term partnership with CJD Equipment and the importance of customer-centric business models.
By 2040, waste generation in NSW is expected to increase from 21 to 31 million tonnes a year. The trend reflects structural changes to the state’s economy from population growth, shifts in dwelling types and industry composition.
According to the NSW Government’s 20-year Waste Strategy issues paper, if current trends continue, the state will not meet established targets to divert 75 per cent of waste from landfills by 2021.
To proactively change course, the state government has committed to building resource recovery capacity across the state – outlining opportunities and strategic direction for expanded waste and recycling infrastructure.
This is welcome news to Dean Wanless, Wanless Waste Management (WWM) Managing Director, who with 30 years’ experience in waste and resource recovery, has watched the sector adapt to meet changing environmental requirements.
“We’re not in mining or excavation, we’re in recycling, and while it’s an old business, it is changing dramatically, and we need to be on top of that,” he says.
With foundations in auto recycling, Wanless explains that the family run business dates back 60 years.
“Starting as an auto recycling company, we soon ventured into metal recycling and then naturally into waste management,” he says.
“We now operate everything from metal recycling, landfills, collections and resource recovery centres, such as WWM’s Sydney Recycling Park.”
Located 56 kilometres west of Sydney’s CBD, WWM’s 11-hectare Sydney Recycling Park accepts waste from the city’s commercial, industrial and demolition markets.
The northern aspect of the park operates as a comprehensive recycling facility, where recovered materials are screened, processed, treated and recovered for local re-use.
The facility processes up to 220,000 tonnes of waste per annum, with approximately 85 per cent of incoming material diverted from landfill.
To support WWM’s operations, Wanless says the company have fostered a long-term working relationship with CJD Equipment.
For the last decade, CJD has supplied WWM with a wide range of Volvo wheel loaders and excavators, which work to boost operational efficiency and help the company maintain its high recovery rates.
Machinery supplied by CJD includes three EC300D excavators, one EC140C, three EC220D’s and another ECR58D compact excavator.
Additionally, WWM operates two L120F wheel loaders.
CJD’s Volvo EC300D excavators provide faster cycle times via increased power and digging force.
To maximise durability, the boom and arm are reinforced in critical areas to equally distribute mechanical stresses.
WWM’s additional excavators offer similar reliable performance, with the EC220D utilising eco-technology to facilitate a 10 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency, compared to previous models.
Likewise, the L120F wheel loaders offer power, speed and operator comfort, while next generation Volvo HTE 200-transmissions provide smoother shifting and lower fuel consumption.
Volvo’s unique TP-linkage provides high breakout torque and parallel movement throughout the entire lifting range.
Precision-steering and pilot-operated fingertip control of the load-sensing hydraulics gives operators complete control of their movements, enabling safety and faster work cycles.
CJD’s relationship with Volvo extends more than 20 years, with the strategic partnership providing businesses throughout Australia with access to Volvo’s ever-expanding line of waste and resource recovery equipment.
According to Wanless, the Volvo name has weight across the waste sector for good reason.
“We’ve changed brands over the last 40-50 years but have stuck with Volvo over the last decade because the product itself is continuously improving,” he says.
“Volvo works to stay ahead of the pack, which is very important.”
While Wanless highlights the quality of Volvo equipment – notably low maintenance costs and sustainable fuel consumption – he says the rationale behind the ongoing relationship with CJD is largely staff driven.
“We have very long-term employees who are quite autonomous. We have a lot of trust in our people, and they want to operate Volvo equipment,” Wanless explains.
He adds that excavators have been a key component of WWM’s process since they become a staple of the recycling industry in the 1970s.
“We’ve owned just about every type there is, and we recognise that our team members are best placed to understand how they operate and what the benefits are,” Wanless says.
“If our team is requesting Volvos, then that’s the product we’re going to purchase. It gives the team control over their day-to-day operations and fosters a productive working environment.”
CJD have a similar team ethos, Wanless says. He adds that the company work to always ensure its client’s needs are meet.
“The relationship started with one machine purchase and that went really well, and its continued to grow from there. CJD are fantastic to deal with,” he says.
Wanless explains that as with any long-term partnership, there have been issues along the way.
“However, what’s more important than the issue itself is how it’s dealt with, and CJD are committed to prioritising their customer’s needs and making you feel heard and important,” he says.
“CJD take their customers seriously and problems are always dealt with urgently.
“They understand the importance of long-term business relationships and turning up.”
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