UP FRONT
Waste-to-energy can play a role alongside other recycling technologies in providing an end-of-life waste alternative to landfilling.
Potential energy THERE’S A GENERAL ACCEPTANCE THAT WASTE-TO-ENERGY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE. WHAT THAT ROLE WILL BE REMAINS DIVISIVE. WASTE MANAGEMENT REVIEW LOOKS AT THE STATE OF PLAY.
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ustralia has set an ambitious target of recovering 80 per cent of waste by 2030. Export bans on waste streams, investment in infrastructure to create an end market for recycled products and increasing rates of recycling, are helping the nation move closer to creating a sustainable, circular economy. But, there will always be some waste that cannot be recovered.
24 / WMR / March 2022
Almost every developed country in the world has Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants to recover the energy stored within residual waste. Australia is decades behind and while there has been an acknowledgement that WtE has a role in the nation’s future, not everyone is on the same path. In 2021, Victoria and New South Wales released plans for future use of WtE in their respective states.
While governments try to “get the balance right”, industry leaders claim the regulation is stifling developments. While some local communities are embracing WtE, others are battling to keep facilities out of their backyards. Dr Daniel Roberts, Research Director, Energy Technologies for CSIRO’s Energy Business Unit, says WtE is a “contentious issue” within Australia.
