Australian manufacturing company Wastech marks a major milestone and sets a vision statement for the future.
What does Wastech beyond 30 look like?
For Clete Elms, it’s acknowledging the work of founding brothers Neil and Paul Bone, while pivoting the company to the future to ensure it’s around for another 30 years.
The recently appointed Chief Executive Officer has a clear vision of growth to transform the engineering, manufacturing and service company into a truly national end-to-end and resource recovery solution provider.
“The industry has changed,” Clete says. “Companies are taking more ownership of their waste management and realise resources are precious.
“Wastech sees a real opportunity to become sustainability experts through technology and industry innovation. We want to supply global-leading equipment to help take resource recovery into the future.”
SOLID FOUNDATIONS
Wastech was founded in 1993, designing and engineering solutions for the waste management and resource recovery sector. It’s grown to more than 100 employees across Australia and has partnered with global brands to offer a stable of cutting-edge equipment contributing to the nation’s path to a circular economy.
Known for its technology-enabled solutions, Wastech is driven by the goal of environmental sustainability. It does not just question the “what if” but explores “how will it be done” and “how to make it happen”.
Clete’s appointment is a strategic move to build on recent years’ momentum and leverage the Bone brothers’ expertise. Clete is an executive with 20 years of experience with ASX-listed corporations, including Cleanaway and Boral. He’s drawing on his results oriented operational background to drive a high-performing, customer-centric culture at Wastech. That, he says, means being responsive to customers and the market.
Clete is aiming to identify emerging market segments and build a leadership team and a business that responds to them.
PEOPLE POWER
“We’re looking to be the solutions provider of choice for the resource recovery sector with a range of products that meet a range of requirements,” Clete says. “That has a lot to do with increasing our bench strength at Wastech and getting people with the right skill sets into the business. For sales and marketing, that means professional sales executives who understand customer value proposition as well as the industry.
“For production, it means highly efficient design and manufacturing capabilities combined with a highly engaged workforce.
“For service, it means empowering our technicians with leading edge workforce planning systems to make their ability to meet customer requirements seamless.”
Proudly Australian, Wastech is a recognised leader in consulting, designing, and manufacturing waste handling equipment. From cardboard, plastic and polystyrene to e-waste and general waste, it’s developed a range of products and services to meet all waste types.
Head office and manufacturing remain in Victoria. Service and repair centres in Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth all stock a large range of spare parts, while skilled technicians operate 24/7 Australia-wide and can attend on-site to service, repair and refurbish all products in the industry.
The aim, Clete says, is for Wastech to be a one-stop shop for the waste and resource recovery sector. But it’s customer service that will set it apart.
“We’re aiming to be an industry leader in design, development, manufacture as well as repairs, parts, and service,” he says. “We’re creating processes and structures to enhance our core business that will only help us continue to grow.”
GLOBAL PARTNERS
The key to growing the business is global partnerships. Wastech is the Australian and New Zealand distributor of Fire Rover, an early fire protection solution that can detect and extinguish fires before they start.
It has exclusive rights to Bramidan Balers and Flexus Balasystems. In December 2022, Wastech signed a deal to distribute McCloskey Environmental equipment when the 35-year mainstay in crusher, trommel and screen design branched out into the waste and recycling sector. Wastech is also bringing robotic sorting technology into the fold, as well as odour control and alternate day covers for landfills.
“There are companies who might provide one or two services or products, but from a waste equipment point of view, no one offers everything and to the extent that we do,” Clete says.
“The breadth of services we offer can assist just about any customer with their resource recovery requirements.”
Bringing the shiniest and newest technology on shore is not all a rush. Clete says partnerships must be the right fit for both parties, and there should be a need for the technology in Australia. It comes back to the company ethos to be responsive to the market.
Brand reputation, product quality and an appetite for growth are also important.
“We live and die by the products we introduce,” Clete says. “We do have a great reputation for supplying products that last and do more than what we say they will do.
“We’re always looking to innovate and bring new technology. But it’s about ensuring the options we’re putting forward are sustainable and providing a closed loop where possible.”
CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS
Closed-loop solutions are gaining more importance as Australia pushes toward a circular economy and national waste targets, including an 80 per cent average recovery rate from all waste streams by 2030.
Despite aiming to reduce the total waste generated in Australia by 10 per cent by 2030, waste generated increased by three per cent compared to 2018-19, according to the 2022 National Waste Report. That’s expected to continue to grow in line with population growth.
Clete says an increase in the amount of waste generated is also combined with an increase in client expectations for new ways to collect, transport, treat, process and recycle it. He uses the example of an evolving tonne to put the changing waste landscape into perspective. Thirty years ago, a tonne of household rubbish would have gone directly to landfill. Now part of that tonne is sent to a materials recovery facility, part to organics recycling, possibly part to a glass beneficiation plant, with the remaining reduced residual component to landfill.
Escalating landfill levies also means it’s now more economically viable for companies to invest in the capital required for waste processing equipment.
“For a tech provider like us, there’s a whole lot of other things we can do for waste generators to meet their circular economy aspirations,” Clete says.
Looking ahead, Clete’s 10-year vision is for Wastech to be a partner of choice across a broad client base, whether it be a waste management company, retailer, or waste generator. Expansion across the eastern seaboard, organically or partnering with like-minded businesses, is also on the cards.
He’d like to see fabrication decentralised from Victoria with additional locations in Sydney and Brisbane.
It’s a big ask, but Clete is looking forward to it.
“I like to build businesses and successful teams,” he says. “This is an industry I’m passionate about and know well. Wastech presents a terrific opportunity to build up a business that responds to that industry We have the appetite for growth and expansion.”
For more information, visit; www.wastech.com.au
