Green teamwork: Green Care Mulching and CEA

Mar 17, 2023

Green Care Mulching's Russell Norton discusses his business, and its partnership with equipment distributor CEA.

Led by rapidly evolving technology, processes, and community expectations, the waste management game is often in flux. But, in some corners of the industry, there are fundamental services that will always be in demand – the shredding, processing, and recycling of green waste is one of these.

Green Care Mulching specialises in grinding services, primarily for green and timber waste, but is well equipped to handle anything from plastic waste to tyres.

The family-owned company is based in Geelong, Victoria, where it processes green and timber waste into mulch and compost for businesses, government departments, and the general public.

"We process an enormous quantity of timber and green waste, which we resize, decontaminate, and manufacture into different-sized products," says Russell Norton, Green Care Mulching Managing Director.

The business has developed a customer base across a range of markets, including poultry and dairy farms, landscaping businesses, and bioenergy producers.

"We also provide material grinding services on-site around Victoria and interstate," Russell says. "We’ve even been involved in cyclone clean-ups, including one that went through the Yarra and Macedon Ranges in June 2021.

"That project resulted in four of our grinders processing debris for months. The project generated more than 300,000 cubic metres of mulch, which we resized down to 50 millimetres."

Mutual growth

The origins of the business date back to 1988, when Russell began his professional life as an arborist. He began exploring the shredding and processing side of the tree business in 2008, which led him down the path to the world of compost.

Green Care Mulching in its current form began in 2015. It was at this point the business purchased its first Komptech Crambo shredder – the start of what would develop into a positive working relationship with CEA, which distributes and supports JCB, Komptech, and a range of other brands in Australia.

Today, with a staff of 50, Green Care Mulching operates a large fleet of machinery, including 10 JCB machines – excavators, telehandlers, and loaders; four Komptech shredders; and two Komptech screeners. As well as the value and reliability these machines offer his business, Russell says being able to rely on a single point of contact for support is a big reason he continues to deal with CEA for such a large portion of the company's fleet.

"We take the same approach with our trucks, passenger vehicles and prime movers too," he says. "We’ve found brands that work for us, and we continue to build those relationships.

"Having confidence in a brand develops a mutual trust. That gives us the confidence that we’ll be supported when something happens – and my contacts at CEA are always available on the phone when I need assistance."

With global supply chain issues continuing to cause delays in securing spare parts, Russell says the company's in-house workshop now carries more spare parts for its machines than ever before.

"We’re quite fortunate to be in the financial position where we can order multiples of any spare parts we need," he says. "But we’re comfortable knowing CEA can provide a quick turnover for parts if it comes to that."

Russell says Green Care Mulching's relationship with CEA has developed to the point where he's happy to demonstrate his Komptech or JCB machines for those considering purchasing one for themselves.

"These days, people will do a lot of their machine research on YouTube," he says. "And when people in our region find out that we’re running them, they’ll often come to us for our opinion, or to help decide whether they want to hire or purchase.

"I’m more than happy to act as a spokesman for CEA's brands, and our journey with them – though we won't pull any punches. We’ll let people know what works, any issues we might have, and what we do to overcome any of those issues."

Russell says when dealing with equipment sales on the scale he does, it's inevitable that you’ll come across salespeople overpromising and under delivering.

"Over the years, I’ve had hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment from some suppliers that I’ve just never heard from again.

"You won't get that with CEA. I don't think we would be in the position we’re in today without the support of partners like them. We’re in a very fortunate position."

Collaborative development

Russell says the communication he and his business has with CEA is a two-way street.

"They often have questions for us about how we’re using their equipment, what material we’re using it for, our throughput rates," he says. "And they’re able to share that information with prospective customers of theirs."

Russell says CEA is always willing to let Green Care Mulching trial products, including prototypes, to ensure they know what they’re getting before a purchase.

"We’re currently trialling a 50-millimetre screen with our Crambo shredder, and we’re getting good results from it," he says. "It's helpful for CEA to see how contractors might use these products.

"Businesses like ours are an important part of these manufacturers’ research and development. We’re able to tell them what works and what doesn't.

"What's great about Komptech and JCB machinery, is that more works than doesn't."

Green future

Russell is excited for Green Care Mulching to embrace new, more sustainable solutions such as electric and hydrogen – technologies that JCB, for instance, has been developing in recent years.

"It's an exciting time to be in this business," he says. "I’m looking forward to turning off the diesel and running with alternative fuel sources as it becomes more commercially available.

"Four of my children are involved in the business, and that next generation is going to be able to use that new technology to help take the business to levels I never dreamed of."

For more information, visit: www.greencaremulching.com.au

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