Councils seek a smarter solution for household rubbish
Kingston Council and 15 other councils from Melbourne's south-east have launched the first collective tender for advanced waste processing solutions that will process household rubbish instead of sending it straight to landfill.
"This is the biggest tender for new waste management infrastructure ever undertaken by councils in Melbourne" said Kingston Mayor Georgina Oxley. "Advanced waste processing will transform how Kingston manages the rubbish we collect from residents."
Advanced waste processing technologies are being used successfully and safely overseas to recover valuable materials in household rubbish or transform it into energy. These technologies can reduce the amount of household rubbish sent to landfill by at least 85% and reduce our impact on the environment.
The amount of rubbish generated in the south-east is increasing substantially with household rubbish in the 16 councils projected to increase by 40% over the next 25 years. Rubbish will all go to landfill unless another solution is found.
Landfills in the south-east are set to close in a few years, which means councils will have to transport rubbish across Melbourne to other landfills.
"Advanced waste processing is a great solution for household rubbish that would normally go to landfill. We still need to continue kerbside recycling and green and food waste collection services as part of a total approach to managing waste," Cr Oxley said.
"Advanced waste processing will do more with the valuable resources that are being put in landfill and achieve better financial, environmental and social outcomes."
The tender has started with an Expression of Interest to identify businesses with the right experience and capability to design, build and operate a facility. It will take another two years before a preferred bid is selected.
No decisions have been made yet regarding the type or location of any facilities. This will be identified during the procurement process.
It will be five to six years before a facility is operating.
