Spring Farm Resource Recovery Park

The Spring Farm Resource Recovery Park (RRP), located in Sydney's south-western suburbs, services nearly half a million residents in four nearby councils. 

Formally known as the Macarthur Resource Recovery Park and the Jacks Gully Waste and Recycling Centre, the Spring Farm RRP consists of several zones across the 38-hectare site dedicated to sorting, processing, and transferring general, liquid, and mixed solid waste, organic material, glass, and other recyclable materials. 

The site generates renewable energy sourced from onsite solar panels and methane extracted from waste during processing. 

Spring Farm Material Recycling Facility (MRF)

The Spring Farm MRF sorts recyclable materials collected from homes into different categories, or "streams", including paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metals. Each stream is then sold in both local and overseas markets for further processing and use in manufacturing to create new products.

The facility currently services over 104,000 households in four neighbouring council areas.

Site is not open to the public.
 

Public drop-off area

The site's public drop-off area is open to households and small businesses to dispose of small quantities of:

• Paper and cardboard
• Metal
• Vehicle batteries
• E-waste
• Sump oil

For a details guide to accepted waste and applicable fees at Veolia's facilities in NSW, please download our NSW Waste Charges and Services booklet.
 

Glass processing

Glass that has been sorted at the MRF is transported to a specialised onsite glass processing facility. Here, the glass undergoes a thorough cleaning process to remove any residues and contaminants such as plastic, metal, and other debris. Once cleaned, the glass is crushed into a fine, granular material known as "cullet". 

This cullet has a variety of uses and serves as a valuable resource in numerous applications. One significant application is in road construction, where cullet is utilised as a component in asphalt or as a base material for road surfaces. The use of cullet in road construction offers several benefits, including improved durability, enhanced skid resistance, and reduced environmental impact. 
 

Richardson Road engineered landfill (closed) and power station

Richardson Road and Jack's Gully landfills have ceased operations and are now capped to keep them enclosed. The sites have been fitted with gas capture technology and repurposed for methane gas collection. The extracted methane is transported via a pipeline to the dedicated power station, where it is converted into electricity and integrated into the state's energy grid. This technology enables the retired landfill areas to be utilised for renewable energy generation, contributing to the local circular economy. 
 

Liquid treatment plant

Liquids recovered from Spring Farm RRP's operations, including fluids from product destruction and leachate extracted from the Richardson Road and Jack's Gully landfills, are treated and managed onsite to ensure they are suitable for safe disposal. 

The liquid treatment plant removes or reduces contamination to levels which are safe for the liquid's controlled discharge into the municipal sewerage system, where it undergoes further treatment and stabilisation at a wastewater treatment facility.
 

Garden organic composting

Garden organics (GO), which includes grass clippings, leaves, flowers, and small branches from the household green-lidded bin, are collected and stored in a designated section of the Spring Farm RRP. These organic materials are then composted using a controlled process that transforms them into a nutrient-rich, high-quality garden product. This compost can be used to improve soil health, promote plant growth, and reduce the need for chemical fertilisers.

It is crucial that only garden organics are placed in the GO bin. Contamination from other materials poses a significant challenge to the composting process. Items such as plastics (including those labelled as biodegradable or compostable), food waste, and wooden products (such as furniture items) can disrupt the composting process, reduce the quality of the final product, and potentially damage composting equipment.

By ensuring that only appropriate materials are placed in the GO bin, residents can play a vital role in supporting the composting process and contributing to the creation of a valuable resource for gardening and landscaping.
 

Product destruction facility

The Spring Farm RRP's product destruction facility offers comprehensive and specialised services for the secure disposal of sensitive products. These services prioritise cost-effectiveness, security, and sustainability to ensure that clients can meet their disposal needs without compromising their financial or environmental responsibilities. By utilising a secure product destruction facility, businesses can maintain compliance with industry regulations and protect their reputation by preventing unauthorised access to confidential information or proprietary materials.