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Energy from waste projects for Australian communities


With Australia's waste crisis accelerating and landfill capacity declining, Energy from Waste provides a sustainable solution for managing waste that cannot be recycled. As a global leader operating more than 60 energy recovery facilities worldwide, Veolia brings proven expertise to Australia's waste challenge.

Every time non-recyclable waste goes to landfill, valuable resources are lost — energy, metals, and materials that could power communities and support a circular economy.
Energy from Waste isn't a replacement for recycling — it's the essential next step. It takes unrecyclable materials destined for landfill, recovers valuable metals and aggregates, and generates clean electricity and heat for industry.

Veolia's Energy from Waste facilities transform this challenge into opportunity, creating local jobs, generating clean energy, and recovering resources that would otherwise be buried.

Whether you're a regulatory body, community member, industry professional, or business, we're committed to transparency and open dialogue about Energy from Waste.
 

How does Energy from Waste work?

Energy recovery from waste works like conventional coal or gas combustion where the steam powers a turbine to produce electricity. But instead of using fossil fuels, Energy from Waste technology is highly efficient and has been adapted for modern non-recyclable waste materials. 

 

The process:

1️⃣ Residual waste arrives 
2️⃣ Combustion → Waste burns at 850°C+ in a controlled, oxygen-regulated environment
3️⃣ Energy generation → Heat creates steam that drives turbines, generating electricity
4️⃣ Cleaning → Advanced systems to remove 99.9% of pollutants from emissions
5️⃣ Metal recovery → Magnets extract metals from ash for recycling
6️⃣ Power export → Electricity goes to the grid; heat can warm local homes and be used by industry including agriculture
 

The result:

  • 3 tonnes of waste generates the same amount of electricity as 1 tonne of coal
  • Produces a low-carbon energy alternative
  • Provides reliable, 24/7 continuous power that complements intermittent renewables like solar and wind
  • Generates both electricity and heat for nearby homes, businesses, and industries including agriculture
  • Strengthens local energy security and grid stability
  • Reduces landfill demand by over 90%

     

What are the benefits of energy from waste?

Reduces landfill: Diverts non-recyclable materials, helping preserve our limited landfill capacity

Reduces landfill: Diverts non-recyclable materials, helping preserve our limited landfill capacity

Generates clean energy: Converts waste into reliable, locally generated baseload electricity

Generates clean energy: Converts waste into reliable, locally generated baseload electricity

Supports recycling: Works alongside existing recycling systems — not in competition with them

Supports recycling: Works alongside existing recycling systems — not in competition with them

Improves environmental outcomes: Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from landfill using proven, advanced technologies that meet strict environmental and health standards

Improves environmental outcomes: Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from landfill using proven, advanced technologies that meet strict environmental and health standards

Recovers valuable resources: Extracts metals and materials that would have otherwise been buried in landfill

Recovers valuable resources: Extracts metals and materials that would have otherwise been buried in landfill

More employment and support for communities

More employment and support for communities

We are committed to keeping the public informed of any progress and changes made throughout the planning process of the proposed Advanced Energy Recovery Centre (ARC). To receive updates on the project and upcoming events directly, please sign up to our mailing list.

View our NSW Energy from Waste submission