Central Coast Recycling

Before starting a new job in November 2017, I spent 2 days attending to a few videoing tasks, which saw me exploring parts of the Gosford area on a Monday. I was here to shoot some final footage of the then current residential collection trucks which were just about to get replaced. First thing in the morning I spent some time documenting the kerbside clean-up, then I got a green waste side loader and to finish off I located a side arm on recycling. Truck #44 is the yellow bins collector I came across, right at the end of his run, before pushing in to help on a neighbouring run across the main road there in the suburb of Kincumber. Thanks to the bloke behind the wheel for being fine with me chasing along for a bit. It’s no secret this was a very cool and iconic fleet during the time it operated, with things a bit different since my 2008 visit, but it was still awesome to see and hear a weapon central coast truck like this on the job again - all long gone now though! Also always loved that unusual flashing beacon style Thiess ordered, I wonder what the influence was at the time to go with it.
The Central Coast contract started off as a fat regional partnership between the former Gosford City and Wyong Shire, with Thiess winning the job to provide collections. A large group of trucks exceeding 60 units was built up for the task, with a purity of Iveco ACCOs paired up with various sized Superior Pak side lifts and a number of large/small Garwood rear loaders for bulk clean-up and litter bins. Other trucks from a few locations also joined the gang during the years, particularly older rear loaders for clean-up work, otherwise much of the 2008 model fleet pushed through the full 10 years. Back in 2012 Remondis bought out the waste operations of Thiess, seeing the attempted uniform rebranding of the entire Central Coast fleet, however only a fraction had the blue scheme removed and front bumper painted black. A new contract for the massive amalgamated Central Coast Council was awarded to Cleanaway, which in early 2018 deployed 70+ vehicles comprising lots of Superior Pak bodies on a mix of Iveco, Dennis, Hino and Isuzu.

[@JTGarbo]

Once again you've blown me away Mitch another time capsule of Central Coast history. And I know exactly where this section is you filmed in. The last section of Kincumber before you end up in Kincumber South where it starts going rural towards Bensville etc. Funnily enough, this entire section you filmed in was cancelled and put onto the difficult access run for Gosford in 2020, which is operated by one of those mini axle 4x2 Accos. Permanent drivers got the shits with the section said residents ended up abusing cul de sac parking, full timer went around and wrote letters and left them in many letterboxes in many of those dead ends and no avail so he went on a tirade and got it taken off not only his run but the other 2 streams as well, rendering it only done from now on by the same bloke in the mini axle, twice a day (one load for rcy or veg, and return later for the garbage). I did this section in the mini axle in my time there at Cleanaway, and I can see why the big trucks ended up handing it in any saying NO F**KING MORE! Lmao. Who doesnt love a Series 2 with a great arm slam on a Euro 4 setup. Best chassis and body combination made imo. Shame nowadays we will never see such a classy yet simple set up in a fleet ever again. Central Coast just nailed it at what they did, trucks that never looked untidy and the livery, both the Thiess blue and Remondis black variants were always appealing. I miss these days. I was actually about to score the Gosford difficult access full time not long after I decided to hand in the towel there after 3 painful and dark years working for Clownaway. Won't name names or specifics but all I can say is thank fuck I'm out of that place... Feel sorry for all the boys who have been there since Thiess and Sita/SMS even few BFI and PWM originals who just are treated so poor by the current contract holders. It is a shame. The industry just isn't the same that it used to be. Great video mate, thanks for the upload. And I know who's behind the wheel he just not long left Fuckaway from similar shoddy treatment.. I will forward this to them he will no doubt have a smile seeing this. :)

[@jamesrawson5540]

I currently work for wonderful company that is Cleanaway… 😂 But I definitely know what you mean by shoddy treatment

[@acco_0003]

This is a great video! Love the details/signage on the truck body as well!

[@PerthAussieGarbo0759]

love this truck brings back memories

[@ronniemackenzie097]

Awesome Aussiegarb!

[@Ku-Ring-Gai-Garbo]

Do you know what happened to Nylex?

[@AussieGarbo]

Nylex became part of the Superior Pak brand, at least the bins side of things, got bought out in the late 2000s when Transpacific was acquiring multiple companies operating in the waste industry.

[@Ku-Ring-Gai-Garbo]

@@AussieGarbo Thanks