Interviews Smart City

When did Envacs automated waste solution become a focus in Maroochydores plan

Amanda Yeates explains when automated waste collection became central to Maroochydore’s plan: as sustainability and circular-economy goals met transit-oriented design, narrower streets and wider pedestrian/cycle space made trucks impractical—so Envac offered a cleaner, innovative way to move city-centre waste.

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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