Turning Australia’s Waste Into Energy

Australians trust that our waste will be disposed of appropriately. Although most don’t understand the nitty gritty behind our waste management solutions, the least we know is that our general and recycled waste is taken care of in an ethical and environmentally friendly manner.

However, one of the world’s most eco-friendly solutions to waste management is still causing debate in Australia. That is, the solution to turn our waste into energy.

But before we dive into this waste-to-energy method, Harry Van Moorst, community activist from the Western Region Environment Centre, stresses that there is a “waste hierarchy” to consider first. According to Moorst, our top two priorities regarding eco-friendly waste management, concerns the general Australian public.

The first is to consciously reduce our waste. Naturally, a reduction in the average Australian’s waste consumption will reduce our overall waste crisis. Waste reduction can be achieved with simple practices such as ditching plastic shopping bags, using a keep cup for your morning coffees, and packing your children’s school lunch in tupperware, rather than cling wrap.

The second priority is to recycle. There is a particular emphasis on knowing how and what to recycle. This includes focusing on clean paper, cardboard, hard plastics, glass and aluminium. It is just as important to understand what can’t be recycled, as it is to understand what can be. For example, materials contaminated by food (such as greasy pizza boxes) cannot be recycled.

The third solution to consider regarding eco-friendly waste management is out of our hands (that is, the hands of the general Australian public). Instead, it’s in the hands of our government. Moorst reasons that “our waste is better off going to a waste-to-energy plant than to landfill.”

Rather than piling up in landfill, a waste-to-energy solution involves burning the waste in incineration systems as a fuel to generate energy.

What can we learn from other countries?

Turning Waste Into Energy

Sweden, one of the world’s leading nations in effective waste disposal, first adopted this solution in the 1940s. With over 34 waste-to-energy plants currently in operation, Sweden diverts approximately four million tonnes of waste from landfill each year. Two million of that is their own waste, and the other two million is imported from neighbouring countries, such as the United Kingdom, that pay Sweden to get rid of their rubbish.

Considering Australia’s waste crisis, especially after China’s recent waste ban, it is reasonable to question why a country like Sweden would want to take another country’s waste.

Sweden is able to recycle approximately half their waste and burn 49% for energy, which generates electricity for a majority of the country. In addition to diverting almost all landfill waste and providing sustainable energy solutions to their residents, Sweden also makes about $100 million a year from this trade with other countries.

While I’m not suggesting Australia should take responsibility for other country’s rubbish, it’s important to consider the sustainable benefits of turning a liability, such as waste, into an asset, such as energy.

So, why is this causing debate in Australia?

Most Australian’s argue that the solution reminds them of backyard incinerators that were commonly used in the 1960s. What once encouraged families and neighbours to socialise, backyard incinerators were banned over 40 years ago due their contribution to pollution and poor air quality. Most of those against the waste-to-energy solution are concerned about their health.

However, our government wouldn’t consider reintroducing the practice of burning our rubbish if it had such a negative affect today. It’s important to consider that times have changed and more advanced technology and solutions have been discovered that contribute to this renewed method to convert rubbish from landfill. It’s also important to consider that this global method of using incinerators is not the same as it was in the 60s. It’s not just a backyard solution anymore, and it’s now handled by professionals in the waste management and environment industries.

What is Australia’s progress so far?

Despite debates, Australia is slowly introducing this waste management method and currently operating about 30 waste-to-energy projects, most of which are confined to small incinerators.

Australia’s first large scale project of the sort is the Kwinana Waste to Energy facility, located just outside Perth. A $668 million renewable energy project, the facility is expected to officially open by the end of 2021.

The plant will divert up to 400,000 tonnes of waste from landfill each year, which is approximately one quarter of Perth’s post recycling rubbish. It is also expected to convert the waste into enough energy to power 50,000 homes and contribute to the Australian Federal Government’s national target of diverting 80% of our waste from landfill by 2030.

While there are a number of eco-friendly ways that we, as the general Australian public, can dispose of our waste (such as recycling), a waste-to-energy solution is a part of the bigger picture for Australia to consider. According to Federal Energy and Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg, waste to energy has to be part of the solution to dispose of our rubbish ethically and reduce landfill.


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