EPA approves Laverton North waste to energy plant

PRESS RELEASE

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has granted a works approval for a waste to energy plant at Laverton North.

The applicant, Recovered Energy Australia Pty Ltd, will develop a waste to energy facility to process 200,000 tonnes/year of source-separated residual municipal solid waste.

Once constructed, Recovered Energy Australia will not be able to operate the waste to energy plant until it obtains an EPA licence.

The facility will be located at 28 Alex Fraser Drive, Laverton North VIC 3026.

The works approval is subject to conditions. These conditions include the requirement for an EPA-appointed auditor to review detailed design and for further EPA consideration prior to finalising detailed plans. Conditions also require the facility to be able to achieve environmental performance equivalent to European standards.

BACKGROUND

EPA assessed the proposal against all relevant environmental policies and guidelines and looked at any potential environmental and human health impacts that could result from the facility.

Separate from an EPA works approval, Recovered Energy Australia has secured a planning permit from Wyndham City Council to construct and operate the proposed facility.

Recovered Energy Australia Pty Ltd proposes to deliver approximately 15 MW of electricity to the grid and seeks to divert municipal solid waste currently destined for landfill.

In making its decision, EPA considered all views conveyed by members of the public through the consultation period.