Organic waste deals on track

BARWON Water is on track to start taking organic waste from six local government areas (LGAs) in the region within two years under its Regional Renewable Organics Network (RRON).

Proposed for its Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant in Connewarre, the Barwon Water facility will be able to take local commercial, industrial and household food and garden waste and convert it into nutrient-rich products for agricultural uses and power production.

The Australian Consumer Competition Commission (ACCC) recently granted a 20-year approval for the Borough of Queenscliffe (BOQ), City of Greater Geelong (COGG), Colac Otway Shire,

Golden Plains Shire, Surf Coast Shire and Wyndham City Council to collectively bargain with Barwon Water on terms of waste supply agreements for organic waste.

The Surf Coast, Geelong and Queenscliffe councils each held closed sessions at the end of their March meetings to consider their individual supply agreements, a crucial step towards development and operation of the facility, according to Barwon Water’s managing director Tracey Slatter.

“The project is progressing well and we continue to collaborate with the councils on development of long-term waste supply agreements with the aim of the Regional RON being completed and operational in 2024,” she said.

“The project will reduce emissions by up to 15,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually (equivalent of 4,000 cars off the road). It will also generate 2.5 gigawatt hours of electricity, enough to power 14 per cent of energy needs at the Black Rock facility.

“The facility will help keep water bills and council rates low and solve a significant waste and emissions problem by processing 40,000 tonnes of our region’s waste annually, concentrating it into 8,000 tonnes of nutrient rich soil enhancers for agricultural use.”

The project will enable councils such as the Surf Coast to process organic waste locally, instead of sending it hundreds of kilometres to northern Victoria as it
does now.

“Currently, our residential food and garden organic waste is processed in Shepparton, where it’s turned into high quality compost and mulch products,” the shire’s Brendan Walsh said.

Geelong’s organic waste collection service is still in its trial phase in Lara, but is set to be rolled out across the entire council area by 2024.

“For this to happen, we will need a local facility capable of recycling food waste on a large scale,” acting mayor Trent Sullivan said.

“We have a sustainability target of diverting all household waste from landfill by 2031.”

“The Borough of Queenscliffe is excited to be partnering with Barwon Water and other councils in our region on the Regional Renewable Organics Network (RRON),” a spokesperson said.

“Council partners in the RRON project are currently considering a Waste Supply Agreement for the project, which is a necessary step to allow design and eventually construction works to commence … the Borough of Queenscliffe is committed to the RRON.”