Advanced Waste Processing Solutions

Landfills are rapidly filling up, with no more planned to be built. Advanced waste processing solutions have great potential as part of a total approach to managing the household waste we produce. 

Alongside recycling and separating green and food waste for composting, advanced waste processing is a smarter solution for household waste than burying it in the ground. 

The best outcomes will be achieved by minimising our waste, reusing or recycling, and then what is left over can go to advanced waste processing. These facilities are being used safely and reliably around the world, including in the United Kingdom (UK), Asia, and North America. 

The South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing (SEMAWP) 

Nine councils across the southeast of Melbourne have established a company called South East Metropolitan Advanced Waste Processing (SEMAWP) Pty Ltd to work together to deliver an advanced waste processing alternative to landfill.  

The councils involved are: 

  • Bayside City Council 

  • Cardinia Shire Council 

  • City of Casey 

  • City of Greater Dandenong 

  • Frankston City Council 

  • Kingston City Council 

  • Knox City Council 

  • Whitehorse City Council 

  • Yarra Ranges Shire Council 

In July 2024, SEMAWP entered into a Waste Supply Agreement for an advanced waste processing facility located in Maryvale to deliver a smarter solution than landfill for household waste in Melbourne’s southeast.  

Why Do We Need an Alternative to Landfill? 

Landfills are rapidly filling up, with no more planned to be built. For many councils in the southeast, the closest landfill in Hallam is expected to close as early as 2025. Advanced waste processing provides an alternative to landfill that makes better use of household waste than burying it in the ground. 

At least 95 percent less waste will go into landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating investment and employment, and preserving land for better uses than landfills. 

What Is Advanced Waste Processing? 

Advanced waste processing solutions have great potential as part of a total approach to managing the waste we produce. 

Advanced waste processing technologies can include: 

  • Advanced sorting to extract valuable materials (e.g., metals) and treatment of food and green waste to reduce the amount of organic material sent to landfill. 

  • Technologies that transform waste to energy and produce electricity, heat, or gas. 

These technologies provide an alternative solution to sending household waste straight to landfill.

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