Across regional Victoria, however, the collection, transport and processing of waste and recyclables is an essential operation that keeps regional cities running.
Northern Victoria-based company FOOTT has spent more than three decades building a business around that work.
Founded in 1992, the company now employs more than 100 people and operates a fleet of more than 50 trucks servicing communities across northern Victoria and southern NSW.
It provides a range of waste, recycling and event solutions and delivers domestic waste collection services for Greater Shepparton City Council, Strathbogie Shire Council and Benalla Rural City Council.
Materials collected across the region are processed at the company’s Shepparton recycling facility, where recyclable plastic bottles, aluminium cans, cardboard, paper and plastics are sorted and compacted into bales to optimise storage and transport.
FOOTT chief executive officer Andrew Yeoland said the company’s growth has closely reflected the development of regional Victoria.
“FOOTT is proud to be a trusted waste, recycling and events solutions business servicing northern Victoria and southern NSW,” Andrew said.
“Our growth has been built on investing in regional communities, creating local jobs and expanding our services as the region continues to grow.”
Since late 2023, FOOTT has also operated four depots as part of Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme.
Located in Shepparton, Cobram, Benalla and Yarrawonga, the CDS Vic depots have processed more than 81 million containers, returning over $8,100,000 to regional communities.
In addition to operating the depots, FOOTT also manages the logistics and processing for all CDS containers across northern Victoria from Mildura to Wodonga.
The company also supports a range of initiatives through its FOOTT Cares program, which provides sponsorship and support to community groups, events and organisations.
Beyond its operational work, FOOTT also hosts educational tours of its facility for schools and community groups, offering insight into how recycling systems operate.
Andrew said maintaining strong connections with the region remained central to the company’s approach.
“We’re proud of the team we’ve built and the role they play supporting communities, businesses and events right across regional Victoria,” he said.