Tackling Problem Waste
John and Anthena - MCRS
Tackling Problem Waste with the Mobile Community Recycling Service
When household problem waste like paint, gas bottles, e-waste and batteries can’t be easily disposed of, it often ends up in kerbside bins, where it can harm the environment or trigger garbage truck fires. It’s a significant and growing challenge: Fire and Rescue NSW responded to more than 300 lithium-ion battery fires last year – part of an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 such fires across Australian waste and recycling systems annually.
Our Mobile Community Recycling Service (MCRS) provides a safe, convenient and free alternative for NSW residents in Cumberland, Blacktown and Parramatta council regions, making it easier to do the right thing. MCRS is licensed and approved by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and has become a trusted service for thousands of households across Western Sydney.
In FY25 alone, MCRS completed 7,129 collections – a 9.3% increase on the previous year – and safely handled 179 tonnes of problem waste, diverting it from landfill and reducing the risk of dangerous incidents.
Our Impact FY25
MOBILE COMMUNITY RECYCLING SERVICE 7,129
collections
9.3%
increase on the previous year
179 tonnes
problem waste diverted from landfill
Leading the service is John Huynh, who joined RRA in 2016 after relocating to Australia from Vietnam with his family. He says, “I began my journey with RRA as a casual worker looking for more secure employment. I worked my way up and became manager of MCRS in 2020.”
“MCRS provides an easy way to dispose of household problem waste,” John says. “It helps residents that can’t get to a waste depot to still recycle these items.”
The community response to the service has been overwhelmingly positive. “Our team has seen an increase in bookings and happy residents,” John says. “The feedback has been great – our drivers get asked for information about the service all the time.”
MCRS is proof that when recycling is made simple and accessible, people use it. Residents can book a collection online, leave their items outside, and let the MCRS team take care of the rest.
John sees a bright future for the service, saying, “I’d love to see MCRS expand into different LGAs and see further increases in bookings. More bookings mean less problem waste ending up in garbage trucks or landfill – helping to keep our communities safe and our environment clean.”
For John, running MCRS is all about community and doing things right. “It’s rewarding,” he says. “I love my role and the people I work with. Supporting the local community and diverting waste the right way makes me feel proud.”
“It’s rewarding, I love my role and the people I work with. Supporting the local community and diverting waste the right way makes me feel proud.”
John Huynh Mobile Community Recycling Service (MCRS)
