Shoalhaven Resource Recovery Facility (RRF)

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Advanced Recycling Technology for the Shoalhaven

The Shoalhaven is running out of landfill space. Within 10 years our West Nowra landfill facility will reach capacity.

As a result, Shoalhaven City Council has undergone an extensive process of consulting with industry experts to find an economically and environmentally sound solution to a waste problem that faces local governments across Australia.

A project to deliver a state-of-the-art facility capable of diverting over 90% of mixed waste from landfill was initiated with Bioelektra Australia and construction started early 2022. Under the agreement, Bioelektra Australia would construct and operate the facility.

On 15 June 2023, Council was notified that the creditors of Bioelektra Australia Pty Ltd placed the company into liquidation. Council is currently working through the legal process as part of its ongoing due diligence in respect to this project.

Waste processing is continuing as usual with no disruption to kerbside collection services or waste management across the Shoalhaven LGA.

Want to find out more?

Further information on this project is provided via the:

Check out the News Feed below for the latest project update.

To stay across the latest news, subscribe for project updates via the 'Stay Informed' button located on this page. Project subscribers will receive email notifications as the project progresses.

Advanced Recycling Technology for the Shoalhaven

The Shoalhaven is running out of landfill space. Within 10 years our West Nowra landfill facility will reach capacity.

As a result, Shoalhaven City Council has undergone an extensive process of consulting with industry experts to find an economically and environmentally sound solution to a waste problem that faces local governments across Australia.

A project to deliver a state-of-the-art facility capable of diverting over 90% of mixed waste from landfill was initiated with Bioelektra Australia and construction started early 2022. Under the agreement, Bioelektra Australia would construct and operate the facility.

On 15 June 2023, Council was notified that the creditors of Bioelektra Australia Pty Ltd placed the company into liquidation. Council is currently working through the legal process as part of its ongoing due diligence in respect to this project.

Waste processing is continuing as usual with no disruption to kerbside collection services or waste management across the Shoalhaven LGA.

Want to find out more?

Further information on this project is provided via the:

Check out the News Feed below for the latest project update.

To stay across the latest news, subscribe for project updates via the 'Stay Informed' button located on this page. Project subscribers will receive email notifications as the project progresses.

Q&A

Do you have a question about this project that hasn't already been answered in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)? If so, you are welcome post your question here for Shoalhaven City Council's Waste Services Team to answer. 

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  • Share Great idea! Thanks for making it happen. What is the innovative sterilising process this facility will be using? on Facebook Share Great idea! Thanks for making it happen. What is the innovative sterilising process this facility will be using? on Twitter Share Great idea! Thanks for making it happen. What is the innovative sterilising process this facility will be using? on Linkedin Email Great idea! Thanks for making it happen. What is the innovative sterilising process this facility will be using? link

    Great idea! Thanks for making it happen. What is the innovative sterilising process this facility will be using?

    Melanie asked over 5 years ago

    Hi Melanie

    Thank you for your question about what is the innovative sterilising process this facility will be using?

    The innovative sterilisation process is an autoclave process that differs from normal autoclaves. The main difference is that steam is not injected into the autoclave, but it rather uses the steam generated within the waste as part of the sterilisation process. As the waste morphology changes, an algorithm changes pressures and temperatures within the autoclave to ensure full sterilisation takes place.

    Kind regards

    Shoalhaven City Council - Waste Services 

  • Share What will happen to the YELLOW lid bin. Will you take it back or will I keep it and what for. on Facebook Share What will happen to the YELLOW lid bin. Will you take it back or will I keep it and what for. on Twitter Share What will happen to the YELLOW lid bin. Will you take it back or will I keep it and what for. on Linkedin Email What will happen to the YELLOW lid bin. Will you take it back or will I keep it and what for. link

    What will happen to the YELLOW lid bin. Will you take it back or will I keep it and what for.

    Louise198486 asked about 5 years ago

    Hi Louise

    Thank you for your question asking about what will happen to the yellow bin. Will you take it back or will I keep it and what for.

    Under the FAQs section located on the right hand side of this page - there is an answer which refers to what will happen with the yellow lid bin. We have also included this same answer below.

    The yellow lid recycling bin is here to stay. No change is required for the yellow lid recycling bin. 

    The yellow lid bin collection and sorting will remain the same. These materials will continue to be sorted and recycled at a local specialised materials recovery facility, as it is now. This process provides a cleaner recycled product than recyclables from mixed waste.

    Kind regards

    Shoalhaven City Council - Waste Services


  • Share Does council intend to use ANY of the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Has council considered the negative environmental impacts of using Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Can any of the glass material in this system be recycled back into glass instead of lower grade uses such as aggregate? on Facebook Share Does council intend to use ANY of the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Has council considered the negative environmental impacts of using Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Can any of the glass material in this system be recycled back into glass instead of lower grade uses such as aggregate? on Twitter Share Does council intend to use ANY of the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Has council considered the negative environmental impacts of using Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Can any of the glass material in this system be recycled back into glass instead of lower grade uses such as aggregate? on Linkedin Email Does council intend to use ANY of the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Has council considered the negative environmental impacts of using Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Can any of the glass material in this system be recycled back into glass instead of lower grade uses such as aggregate? link

    Does council intend to use ANY of the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Has council considered the negative environmental impacts of using Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? Can any of the glass material in this system be recycled back into glass instead of lower grade uses such as aggregate?

    J asked over 5 years ago

    Hi J

    Thank you for your three questions, responses have now been provided to all three questions below. 

    Does council intend to use ANY of the Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? 

    No.

    Has council considered the negative environmental impacts of using Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for energy production? 

    Yes, hence the reason for not considering this option.

    Can any of the glass material in this system be recycled back into glass instead of lower grade uses such as aggregate?

    The glass can readily be recycled back into glass, however the additional separation process required to obtain different colours is currently not financially viable. A higher used glass commodity price in the future may make this option financially viable. One of the currently proposed uses for this material (as glass wool insulation) is a higher grade use than aggregate.

    Kind regards

    Shoalhaven City Council - Waste Services


  • Share How much energy does this technology use and will the facility be powered by renewable energy? on Facebook Share How much energy does this technology use and will the facility be powered by renewable energy? on Twitter Share How much energy does this technology use and will the facility be powered by renewable energy? on Linkedin Email How much energy does this technology use and will the facility be powered by renewable energy? link

    How much energy does this technology use and will the facility be powered by renewable energy?

    Dale asked over 5 years ago

    Hi Dale 

    Thank you for your question asking how much energy does this technology use and will the facility be powered by renewable energy?

    The facility requires 5MW to operate. This power will be sourced through solar (roof panels) and gas (for the autoclaves) supplemented by power from the grid as needed.

    Kind regards

    Shoalhaven City Council - Waste Services


  • Share How many tons will this plant process per year? on Facebook Share How many tons will this plant process per year? on Twitter Share How many tons will this plant process per year? on Linkedin Email How many tons will this plant process per year? link

    How many tons will this plant process per year?

    James asked over 5 years ago

    Hi James

    Thank you for your question asking how many tonnes will this plant process per year? 

    The development approval for the site is for 130,000 tonnes per year, but initial design capacity is 100,000 tonnes per year.

    Kind regards

    Shoalhaven City Council - Waste Services


Page last updated: 29 Jun 2023, 12:18 PM