Contracts have been signed to build a $400 million waste to energy facility in Western Australia.
The proposed Alternative Waste Treatment (AWT) facility is designed to convert waste into thermal energy, diverting waste from landfill.
The Rivers Regional Council (RRC) tendered for the supply of an AWT facility to reduce the amount of waste being sent to landfill, and the signing of contracts marks an important milestone in that process.
For the six local governments within the RRC who will send domestic waste to the AWT facility – the Cities of Gosnells, Armadale, South Perth and Mandurah, and the Shires of Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Murray – this is a historic moment.
These six local governments, as well as the City of Canning, will deliver waste to the AWT facility, due to be built in the next three years in the industrial area of Kwinana by Phoenix Energy Pty Ltd.
The facility will incinerate waste to generate approximately 35 megawatts of electricity – the equivalent of powering around 35,000 homes.
RRC Chair Councillor Ron Hoffman said this project was a great example of local governments working together to provide a cost-effective and coordinated outcome for residents.
“Most importantly, this facility will divert 100 percent of municipal solid waste from landfill and will provide a new waste to energy plant, providing a more environmentally friendly source of electricity than coal.”
The technology utilised for this facility is ‘Martin Grate’ – high temperature mass combustion, with approximately 450 facilities using this type of technology in the world.
These types of facilities have been operating overseas for well over 40 years.
“This will be the first facility using this technology for disposal of waste in Australia,” said Cr Hoffman.
