Tasmanian waste manager, Southern Waste Solutions (SWS), will advance its commitment to resource recovery and integrated waste management under the leadership of new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nick Gifford.
Gifford has extensive experience in the waste sector and intimate knowledge of SWS, having served as Manager Operations since 2022. He took over as acting CEO earlier this year following the death of his friend and colleague Chris Adekunle.
“As an environmental scientist I have always been interested in using innovation and technology to drive meaningful and measurable environmental outcomes,” Gifford said.
“I was drawn to waste management earlier in my career because the sector offers opportunities to address environmental issues on a massive scale, from reducing landfill reliance to promoting waste recovery and circular economy practices.”
SWS, jointly owned by Clarence City, Sorell, Tasman, and Kingborough councils, receives about 150,000 tonnes of waste every year, in addition to operating Tasmania’s only regulated waste disposal cell.
Gifford said SWS had the scale, expertise and strategic assets to lead the transformation of Tasmania’s waste sector.
“We are close to completing a multi-million upgrade of the Lutana Waste Transfer Station to become a central hub for resource recovery. This will give us the ability to sort and recover multiple different waste streams at the source, minimising the amount of material that goes into landfill,” he said.
SWS Chair Dr Christine Mucha congratulated Gifford on his appointment.
“Nick has demonstrated a clear commitment to driving innovation and achieving Southern Waste Solutions’ strategic goals,” Dr Mucha said.
“The board is confident that, under his leadership, the organisation will continue to strengthen its reputation as a leader in sustainable waste management.
“In addition to the upgrades at Lutana, the Copping Waste Precinct is future proofed to provide modern and safe waste management services for Southern Tasmania when other facilities reach the end of their life.”
Gifford started his career with the Australian Antarctic Division in Kingston before moving to Queensland where he most recently managed Cleanaway’s Ipswich landfill.
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