Hepburn Shire Council has received $650,000 from the Victorian Government to implement the first stage of its waste to energy system.
In the first stage of the $2.4 million project, Hepburn Shire will divert more than 2,000 tonnes of food waste from landfill sites each year – leading to a $280,000 reduction in annual waste disposal costs.
The project will create up to 10 ongoing full-time jobs in the region, following the completion of round two.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced the funding today as part of the second round of the Victorian Government’s $20 million New Energy Jobs Fund grants.
The second stage of the project will investigate injecting the generated methane directly into the gas network.
The fund allows for grants of between $20,000 and $1 million to support new energy technology projects that support the uptake of renewable energy, reduce emissions, and assist community groups to develop their own projects.
More than 50 applications were received in round two of the New Energy Jobs Fund, resulting in 21 successful projects receiving a total of $6.7 million in grants.
The first stage of the project is expected to be complete by 2020.
“More and more councils are turning to waste to energy projects to reduce the impacts to local landfill sites,” said Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.
“This project is a fantastic example of how the New Energy Jobs Fund is helping to create more jobs and improve new energy capabilities.”
“We’re proud to support Hepburn Shire Council’s push to accelerate the uptake of waste to energy technology across Victoria and generate more jobs and economic growth,” said Mary-Anne Thomas, Member for Macedon.