To support its 2020 entry into the waste market, STG Global has appointed Jason Hunt as the company’s first General Manager for the sector.
By 2023, all Victorian councils are set to remove glass from their commingled recycling streams, highlighting a need to re-think traditional approaches to waste collection.
According to Jason Hunt, STG Global’s newly appointed General Manager Waste, this brings up several key questions. Namely: what does separate glass collection mean for waste truck bodies and collection methodologies?
“The waste landscape is changing. More material is coming out of the general waste stream and being recycled,” he says.
“Does that mean a change to waste truck bodies in general? Does that mean there needs to be more bespoke designs for certain waste streams?
“With Victoria alone going completely glass out and introducing a container deposit scheme by 2023, we want to engage people that deal with a lot of glass and recyclables such as pubs and clubs and ask them what their expectations are and how they want to be serviced.
“We’ll then pass that information onto our design and engineering teams to come up with workable and innovative solutions.”
Jason joined STG in March, having spent the last five years at Veolia. His first role with the waste management powerhouse was Victorian Assets, Fleet and Facilities Manager, before moving onto the State Manager role for Veolia’s municipal and commercial collections business.
Prior to his time at Veolia, Jason spent six years at Bucher Municipal, and worked for eight years as a truck chassis supplier with C&V group – supplying a range of trucks to various waste and transport applications.
“Having worked at a manufacturer – responsible for aftersales support and quality – I really understand how the equipment goes together and what is required to service it once it’s in the field and delivered to customers,” Jason says.
“I want to bring that knowledge to STG and drive the innovation the marketplace expects by partnering with waste companies. When I go to those companies, I won’t just say here’s what we offer, but rather find out what they need, where their pain points are, and look to resolve those problems by being a solutions provider.”
Jason first begun conversations with STG on the referral of a friend.
He explains that initial discussions centred around his thoughts on industry change and expansion, before progressing to the offer of a role as STG’s first General Manager for the waste sector.
“It was a good opportunity to get in with an organisation at the ground level and try to establish STG in the market using my experience. I’m a hands-on person,” Jason says.
“I put my work boots, roll up my sleeves and try to really understand the entire functionality of the equipment I’m working with. I’m excited to bring that approach to STG.”
After a 20-year history in the construction equipment industry, STG entered the waste market late last year, and according to Jason, the company’s approach to design and engineering is already generating significant interest.
STG’s waste range includes the Tusks front loader, Bandit side loader and the Claw rear loader, with their unique designs bringing added safety, automation and efficiency to waste collection.
“STG waste trucks look very different to the mainstream and that’s really captured people’s attention and imagination,” Jason says.
“It’s exciting to get that feedback, and it’s not just that STG is different, but that we’re offering functional, practical, reliable and efficient solutions.”
Jason notes delivery and lead times as a key industry pain point that he and STG are hoping to address.
“We market ourselves as ready to work trucks. We want to give people greater choice and shorter lead times, while also creating a more competitive environment,” he says.
“For certain types of waste vehicles, it’s a duopoly, so we want to offer the marketplace greater choice, more alternatives and increased competition.
“We’re also committed to being engaged and at the forefront of industry change and development.”
Regarding industry development, Jason highlights STG’s detachable hopper, which adds value to domestic collection clients via serviceability and uptime.
He also emphasises STG’s automatic bin lifting capability, safety features and unique approach to operator interfaces.
To mitigate the issue of missed bins during collection runs, STG has equipped its trucks with an automated system that sounds off an alarm to tell operators they’ve missed a bin.
The system also automates the pickup process, scanning bins and unloading them with minimal operator input.
The trucks also feature an integrated control system, which provides operational and performance insights across a fleet – enabling city councils, waste operators and collection companies to increase their productivity.
One of the system’s key features is the ability for operators to upload their own software and applications, meaning less screens in the cabin to reduce operator clutter.
“Truck cabins are becoming very cluttered for operators at the best of times, so if we can consolidate operator interfaces into one or fewer screens, it will help the operator become more productive, less fatigued, less distracted which in turn will lead to reduced accidents in the field,” Jason says.
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