By 2046 Victoria is forecast to send an estimated 5.9 million tonnes of waste to landfill each year*.
That’s enough to fill almost 5,000 Olympic size swimming pools or 7.8 MCGs, every year.
Residual waste is the general waste we put in the bin after we have reduced, reused and recycled. It also includes residual commercial waste from industrial and demolition sources. Currently, all of Victoria’s residual waste is being sent to landfill for disposal.
Landfills take up vast areas of land to bury useful resources. Cleanaway operates a range of recycling programs and facilities to divert waste from landfill. However, there will always be waste that cannot be avoided, reused or recycled. Cleanaway is investing in a sustainable alternative to landfills for this residual waste.
*Source: Sustainability Victoria. 2022, September 16. Victoria’s Waste Projection Model.
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Summary Document
You can read the project summary document by clicking on the image.
Information Session Info Pack
All information sessions have now ended. You can read the info pack by clicking on the image above to view the presentation. If you have any questions, or wish to arrange a group meeting, feel free to email merc@cleanaway.com.au
We can divert landfill waste and transform it into valuable sustainable energy
Cities across Europe, America, Japan and many other developed countries use waste-to-energy facilities to convert material that cannot be recycled and would be destined for landfill into valuable electricity. Cleanaway is proposing to build a waste-to-energy facility here in Victoria, using leading-edge technology that is proven.
Scroll down to read more about the proposed Melbourne Energy and Resource Centre (MERC).
Is this safe?
Cleanaway is committed to developing safe facilities across Australia.
Our proposal will use international best practice technology to comply with Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria’s standards for air emissions and the European Industrial Emissions Directive, which is based on decades of experience and safe operating practices.
99.9% of the flue gas produced will be gases common to air, including oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and water vapour. The remaining pollutants will be treated with modern technology to meet stringent emission limits.
We will be publishing air quality monitoring data on our project website on a regular basis.
Learn more about other waste-to-energy facilities overseas.
Not all waste-to-energy facilities are the same
The proposal will use tried and proven moving grate combustion technology. Moving grate combustion technology is a flexible and robust technology that is best suited for processing mixed waste.
Click here to see how Gloucestershire Energy from Waste Facility (UK) uses this technology.
With over 100 years of operating experience, the moving grate combustion system is used in the majority of international waste-to-energy facilities and has a long track record of reliable operation recovering energy and other resources from mixed wastes.
The facility will recover metals and generate energy
The proposed facility will divert more than 95% of the waste it receives to produce electricity, recover metals and repurpose by-products into useful construction materials.
The process will recover an estimated 10,000+ tonnes of recyclable metals per year and generate over 40 megawatts of electricity that will power over 70,000 homes.
The facility will produce less greenhouse gases when compared to landfill
The proposal will avoid methane emissions from landfill and replace electricity that would otherwise be produced from burning fossil fuels. This, along with recovered recyclable metals and construction aggregate, results in an overall net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Read the ‘Project Benefits’ fact sheet to learn more.
Smart city technology
Of the ~500 waste to energy facilities currently operating in Europe and the UK, the majority are using 'moving grate' combustion technology, which is what we are proposing. It is considered to be a safe smart city technology.
See other waste-to-energy examples in the Info Hub tab for more information on similar overseas waste-to-energy centres.
We still prefer people avoid, re-use and recycle their waste.
The waste hierarchy preferences higher order solutions for the waste we generate.
Our priority is to avoid producing waste in the first place. Where this is not possible we seek to reduce the amount of waste created and then to pursue the highest order “reuse, recycling and recovery options” available in order to prolong and preserve the value of our finite resources at their highest value.
Cleanaway supports Victorians by operating many waste recycling services in Victoria. We recycle food and garden organic waste, glass, paper, cardboard and plastic. Cleanaway also invests in education programs and supports innovative ideas to reduce waste.
To better manage waste, we need to find ways to work at higher levels of the waste hierarchy. The Melbourne Energy and Resource Centre (MERC) proposal aims to do this by recovering energy from residual Municipal Solid Waste (general household waste bins), and Commercial and Industrial waste that would otherwise be disposed in a landfill.
Cleanaway has been providing waste management services for over 50 years. We understand the pressing need to reduce the volume of waste that ends up in landfill.
Cleanaway provides a complete range of waste management solutions across Victoria. We also operate the Melbourne Regional Landfill located in Ravenhall. We understand landfills will no longer be a viable option for waste management in the future. Cleanaway supports Recycling Victoria’s policy of reducing waste disposed to landfill. Even after the avoidance of waste, removal of recyclables and food and organics from general waste, Victorians will still be sending over three million tonnes of waste to landfills each year if alternative solutions are not implemented.
The proposed waste-to-energy facility, MERC, will receive residual waste that would otherwise go to landfills. This waste will come from general waste disposed in bins at homes, businesses, shopping centres and schools. The residual waste typically includes items such as packaging materials, nappies and sanitary items, tissues, small bits of wood, broken non-electrical kitchen items, worn out clothing and other general household waste.
The flexibility of the MERC design allows us to preference the waste hierarchy and accommodate future improvements and innovations in waste management practices as Victoria transitions to a circular economy.
If you have any enquiries about the MERC project, please call the Project Hotline on (03) 9021 0603 or email merc@cleanaway.com.au.
How does it work?
Here are the steps of waste collection and treatment of residual waste.
When and where is it proposed?
The proposed location for the Melbourne Energy and Resource Centre (MERC) is 510 Summerhill Road, Wollert, Victoria. Click here to view on Google Maps.
Location Map
An artist's impression drawing of the proposed MERC
An artist's impression drawing of the Visitor and Education Centre as part of the proposed MERC
We are currently undertaking the technical assessments to inform the design of the MERC. Further details will be shared in early 2023.
Cleanaway will submit the necessary applications for the MERC proposal to the Victorian Government in early 2023. If the proposal is approved, it will take approximately three years to build the facility.
Project timeline and engagement opportunities (subject to approval processes)
An indicative project timeline is outlined below.
2022 - Project Design
Cleanaway is working with government, local council and key stakeholders to inform project decision makers.
Project information is shared with the community through online engagement and a letterbox drop.
2023 - Development and Planning Approvals
Project information continues to be shared with the community through public events and online engagement.
Community and stakeholders can provide feedback to inform project decisions and provide a local understanding.
Planning and development applications are lodged with the relevant government authorities including Recycling Victoria, Environment Protection Authority, the Minister for Planning and Whittlesea Council.
Following a preliminary review, approval documents are available for public review.
Community events and online engagement provides opportunities to learn more about the project design.
Community and stakeholders can provide submissions on the development and planning approval applications.
Community Reference Group provides feedback into project approval decisions.
Decision on the application will be made by the relevant authorities following the public consultation.
2024 – 2027 Construction (subject to approvals)
Community Reference Group provides feedback on communications related to construction activities and provides an opportunity to discuss any local issues.
Key stakeholders and the community will be informed of construction timeframes and any expected disruptions
2027 onwards - Operation (subject to approvals)
Completion of the MERC
The Visitor and Education Centre welcomes the community to learn about waste as a resource, recycling, the circular economy and waste-to-energy – complete with tours accessible by all.
Latest News
5-12-2022 We are ready to share with you about the MERC proposal. Find out more on our website, or ask us any questions. Our team will be engaging with the community in early 2023. Subscribe to our page to receive latest updates.
19-12-2022 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Cleanaway and its team will be taking a break over the festive season. We will be back on the 9 January 2023. If you have any questions, we will respond as soon as we return. Thank you for your support, have a very nice summer holiday!