The Environmental Protection Authority has today recommended conditional approval for two technologies for processing municipal waste at the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council’s Red Hill site.
EPA Chairman Paul Vogel said the proposed facility, located west of the existing waste site and about 1km from the nearest residence, would assist in diverting waste from landfill.
The Eastern Metropolitan Regional Council (EMRC) proposes to implement either an anaerobic digestion or gasification technology to process kerbside municipal solid waste, but not both.
Dr Vogel said it was likely that the EPA’s air quality and odour objectives would be met for both technologies provided recommended conditions were satisfactorily implemented. Although the final technology option has not been chosen by the proponent, the EPA has recommended conditions to reduce air emissions under either scenario.
Red Hill began operation as a landfill in 1981 and has expanded to produce mulch and compost and to become a transfer station for recyclable material.
The EPA and the Waste Authority released a report in April this year, which concluded that modern waste-to-energy plants could operate within strict emission standards, and with acceptable environmental and health impacts, when well designed and operated using best-practice technologies and processes.
The EPA’s report to the Minister for Environment is now open for a two-week public appeal period, closing August 5, 2013. Appeals can be made at www.appealsconvenor.wa.gov.au
The Minister for Environment will make the final decision.
EPA Report 1487 is available at www.epa.wa.gov.au
Media Contacts: Nadia Miraudo, Fiona Adolph 0400 866 450
