New South Wales-based startup ARC Ento Tech is set to build a commercial waste-to-resource plant in Hawkesbury.
The plant will aim to convert 85 per cent of the waste within the Hawkesbury Waste Management Facility into valuable resources.
The one-year trial will initially process and divert 20 tonnes of putrescible waste per day, converting it into fertiliser – with the long-term goal of scaling the model across Australia and globally.
The process converts mixed waste into valuable commodities such as metallurgical coking coal, fertiliser, livestock feed, biofuel.
Building the plant will demonstrate how ARC Ento Tech’s technology provides a scalable and commercial model to address the waste problem facing Australia and the globe, according to ARC Ento Tech.
Adam McArdle, Chief Executive Officer of ARC Ento Tech, said demand is growing for the company’s plant, fuelled by Greater Sydney’s dwindling landfill and the nation’s transition to a circular economy.
“Our partnership with Hawkesbury City Council is a crucial step in demonstrating that the waste ending up in landfills holds significant commercial value. With our ARC Process technology, we are not only reducing landfill dependency but also unlocking the potential of waste as a valuable resource.
“This project provides solid proof that sustainable waste management is achievable and offers a scalable model that can be adapted by private and government stakeholders worldwide.”
Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather said the trial was an innovative addition to the council’s efforts to reduce waste, to the benefit of all residents.
“All current predictions show Greater Sydney’s existing landfill capacity will run out by 2030, including the Hawkesbury facility. This is a huge problem for all Sydney councils, not just the Hawkesbury,” Sheather said.
“This trial has the potential to extend the life of our landfill, giving our residents greater certainty around the ongoing provision of an affordable and sustainable waste service, but more than that, it has the potential to revolutionise how we manage waste across the country.
“I’m very proud that council and our staff are leading the way. I look forward to the results of this trial and a positive path forward for our city’s waste management.”
Related stories:
Busting waste myths with Australia’s first large-scale energy-from-waste facility
Victoria’s first EfW licence awarded to Maryvale project
