The new $80 million site, operated by SITA Environmental Solutions, will divert up to 70 percent of household waste from landfills, which would otherwise be a serious contributor to Australia’s C02 emissions.

The use of new waste treatment facilities could spell an end to landfills, which are serious contributors of greenhouse emissions / Image: Istockphoto

SITA spokesperson Mike Ritchie says waste treatment facilities simulate a process of decomposition similar to that which occurs in nature, preventing the flow of harmful gases into the atmosphere.

“The biggest problem with putting organic waste into landfill is as it decomposes, it produces methane gas which is a significant green house gas generator,” he says.

“Methane has a twenty one times more potent carbon forcing effect, than carbon. Therefore putting organics into landfill is a significant contributor to Australia’s green house gas footprint, with landfills currently responsible for three percent of Australia’s green house gas emissions.”

Mr Ritchie says advances in waste treatment technology have enabled plant operators to create a more efficient and risk-free method of processing waste materials.

“The composting systems on site are fully aerobic, meaning they are in the presence of air all the time. As a consequence of that, the composting process is very efficient and generates no methane at all,” he says.

“Essentially the fully aerobic decomposition that occurs in the drum is equivalent to the decomposition that happens in nature.”

“That’s one of the significant benefits. Not only are you saving waste for reuse and generating compost that can improve soil quality, but you are also converting a significant green house gas polluter in the form of landfill to a zero count for carbon emissions.” 

The new site, to open in the Neerabup Industrial area by March-April next year, will treat up to 100,000 tonnes of household waste annually and will convert a large majority of recovered waste into reusable market-quality materials.

“These sites have a very high resource recovery rate. We are talking up to 70 percent of the contents of your green waste bin at home, which is quite a new achievement for Australian societies,” he says.

“That 70 percent of recovered materials will be processed into quality compost and resold back into the marketplace.”

In addition to the environmental benefits, Mr Ritchie says there will be significant economic advantages for Australian communities who choose waste treatment projects over landfills.

“As we move in to an emissions trading regime where there is a price put on methane pollution from landfill, these technologies will become increasingly price competitive.

“They will not only benefit the environment in terms of resource recovery and reducing green house gas emissions but within five years time they will probably be cheaper than operating a landfill as well.”

Click here to read more about the technology behind SITA's waste tretament solutions.

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