As our population grows, also does the quantity of waste that we generate. Currently, 23 million tonnes of waste are sent to landfill each year across Australia. If we continue at this rate, we’ll need to accommodate it with more landfill sites that blemish our beautiful landscape and release increasing amounts of methane and greenhouse gases into our atmosphere. This current method of dealing with our waste is neither convenient nor environmentally sound.

We already put waste to good use by recovering important resources from it. The Genesis Xero Waste facility in Western Sydney is a world leader in recycling construction and demolition waste. Green energy from the waste which cannot be recycled is an energy source which has not so far been tapped in Australia. It can support solar and wind by driving clean energy back to the grid.

By converting non-recyclable waste into steam to drive power generating turbines, we’re unlocking a new green energy source as well as breaking the reliance on landfills and the harmful methane gas they leak.

We’re closing the loop on waste and opening up new possibilities in the renewable energy sector with the proposed Next Generation Energy from Waste facility. Using the world’s leading technology, we aim to provide NSW a safe, clean and reliable additional supply of energy, while providing a sustainable solution to Sydney’s growing waste problem.

tonnes p/a waste diverted from landfill

tonnes p/a greenhouse gases eliminated

Estimated homes being powered

Estimated time no additional landfills will be needed in Sydney

Instead of allowing waste to break down slowly over decades leaking greenhouse gases to the air and toxins to the ground, we’re using this waste as fuel to generate electricity.

With the help of years of technological advancements, we can now safely unlock the energy stored in this waste by burning at extreme temperatures while filtering out or neutralising the chemicals, particles and gases, preventing them from doing further damage to our environment.

That is true in some form or another.

Recently demonstrated by three independently conducted audits, the Genesis Xero Waste facility already has world leading systems which ensure that inappropriate materials do not enter the fuel cycle.

The NSW EPA will have 24 hour remote computer monitoring of the facility and it is proposed that for the first year of operation 24 hour per day on site in person supervision by an EPA officer will verify the consistency and quality of the fuel waste supply.

The fuel waste is residual material from construction and demolition activities and will include cardboard and paper from packaging. All of which is residue left over after recycling has taken place.

The thermal treatment of course produces by-products, the majority of which are treated by chemical processes. The particulates are captured by bag filters.

Not everything is destroyed by incineration. After the burning process what is left over is metal and ash.

This is moved from the burning chambers and separated. The metal is removed for recycling. and the ash taken for analysis and appropriate disposal.