Bottom ash recycling facility approved by EPA Victoria

An $8 million bottom ash recycling facility has been approved by EPA Victoria. It is claimed to be the first facility of its kind to be approved for construction in the state and will be located with the Maryvale energy from waste (EfW) facility.

The facility will process bottom ash, recovering a range of metals before transferring them for recycling.

The remaining inert materials will be suitable for processing in the manufacture of Maryvale Recycled Aggregate (MRA), a product that can be used in road construction as a sustainable alternative to traditional asphalt. The recycled aggregate will be aligned with VicRoads Class 3 and Class 4 aggregate performance standards, which are used in Victorian road construction.

The Maryvale EfW project is being planned and constructed by Opal, Veolia and Masdar Tribe Australia. Located at Opal Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill in the Latrobe Valley, the EfW facility will use non-recyclable residual waste to produce steam and electricity to supply the mill. The Maryvale EfW project has EPA and council regulatory approvals for construction.

Jonathan Mayberry, General Manager, Business Development at Veolia, said that securing the EPA approval to build a bottom ash recycling facility marked a positive development for the project.

“EfW facilities are a proven and reliable solution that derive valuable energy from non-recyclable residual waste,” Mayberry said.

“Of the 325,000 tonnes of waste the Maryvale facility will accept every year, some 96% will be diverted away from landfill. Approval to integrate the bottom ash recycling facility further strengthens the project’s environmental credentials by allowing approximately 60,000 tonnes of aggregates and approximately 6000 tonnes of metals to be recycled and recovered.”

David Jettner, Opal’s General Manager Corporate Development & Strategic Projects, said that integrating the bottom ash recycling facility further strengthens the Maryvale EfW project’s alignment with circular economy principles.

“The bottom ash recycling facility will create additional jobs and add economic value for the Latrobe Valley. Importantly, together with the Maryvale EfW facility, it will bring innovative and emerging industries to the region,” Jettner said.

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