New facility to divert 90% of mixed waste from landfill

Shoalhaven City Council is entering into a long-term contract with Bioelektra Australia to build and operate a new waste processing facility that uses state-of-the-art technology to solve a landfill problem that all local governments in Australia face.

“The Shoalhaven … [is] running out of landfill space, and in 12 years’ time, it is predicted we will reach capacity at our West Nowra landfill facility,” said Mayor Amanda Findley.

“The introduction of this new facility is projected to extend the landfill life of the Shoalhaven to more than 50 years.”

To be constructed on council-owned land adjacent to the West Nowra landfill site, the Resource Recovery Facility (RRF) will have the ability to sort all the contents of the Shoalhaven’s mixed-waste (red) bins, with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year. Operating with Bioelektra Group’s technology, everything that can be re-used or recycled will be extracted in one process.

The process involves sterilising and drying the waste to eliminate odours, before the dry material is sorted through a series of screens into its separate recyclable components. Plastic, glass, metals and organics are all recycled into various products, including construction aggregate, bricks, render and glass wool. Any unrecycled reject material returned to landfill is inert, reducing environmental risk.

Council resolved unanimously to adopt the new technology at a meeting held in October 2018, with Findley describing it as “an Australian first in waste management” and “a giant leap forward for how Shoalhaven manages waste”.

“This state-of-the-art facility will be Australia’s first advanced treatment plant capable of diverting 90% of mixed waste from the landfill,” she said.

The reduction in landfill waste is projected to reduce the council’s levy bill to the NSW Government by nearly $7 million per year. Construction of the facility will also open up 200 job opportunities, with ongoing jobs expected for over 30 people.

Works will commence in 2019 and the facility is expected to be fully operational by late 2021.

Image caption: RRF concept drawing. Image courtesy of Bioelektra.

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