Interviews Smart City

How does automated waste collection fit into smart public infrastructure?

Amanda Yeates explains how automated waste collection fits into smart public infrastructure for a transit-oriented Maroochydore: narrower, people-first streets make traditional trucks impractical, so Envac’s system integrates with expanding public transport to support growth, connectivity, and city-centre efficiency.

This video is part of our Q&A series where Amanda Yeates shares insights into the implementation of the Envac system on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. Each episode covers a different aspect of the project, and you can explore the rest of the series below

Interviews Smart City

How did stakeholders and the community react to the Envac system?

Stakeholders and visitors increasingly associate Maroochydore’s new CBD with its first-in-Australia underground, automated waste system—Amanda Yeates says it’s become a standout talking point nationally and internationally.
For residents and workers, the reaction is more practical: quieter mornings without truck beepers, fewer heavy vehicles and overflowing bins, and a cleaner, safer streetscape that now feels “normal” in the city centre.

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Interviews Smart City

What appealed to you about the Envac system?

Amanda Yeates shares why Envac appealed: it was a proven, internationally deployed alternative to traditional waste collection—already operating at scale (e.g., Korea). Introducing it at Maroochydore City Centre brought Australia’s first system of its kind, offering a reliable, modern solution.

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