Waste-to-energy plant proposed for Hume

A $450 million state-of-the-art power plant proposed for Melbourne’s north could turn millions of kilograms of waste into energy — and it could also help solve a problem caused by household recyclers.

SKM Recycling is piled sky-high in Melbourne warehouses.

A $450 million plant that would turn waste into power has been proposed for Hume.

The Leader understands a proposal for the waste to energy plant will be put forward by private company Enrgx.

The plant could take up to 500,000 tonnes (50 million kilograms) of waste and turn it into energy.

The proposal comes more than a month after recycling giant SKM was ordered to stop operation, affecting 32 Victorian councils.

Waste-to-energy plants processes landfill and rubbish that cannot otherwise be recycled to generate electricity.

Items include timbers, textiles and furniture.

Hume councillor Jack Medcraft said the proposal could be great for the environment and the local economy, and would go some way to reversing the state’s recycling crisis.

SKM Recycling has been ordered to shut its doors.

“Think of the jobs it could create, not to mention the benefits for the environment and the generation of electricity for the area,” he said.

Cr Medcraft said the plant would also have the power to sort recycling from rubbish.

Similar plans for a $400 million power plant to fuel enough electricity to power up to 50,000 homes has been proposed in Queensland’s southwest was proposed last September.

Another proposal from private waste contractor Waste Wise Environmental for a resource recovery centre in Thomastown that could process rubbish from Hume, Whittlesea and Darebin has also been lodged at Whittlesea Council.

If signed off, the centre would have the capability to process 40,000 tonnes of waste and could be up and running within 12 months.

Hume recycling has been sent to landfill since the SKM closure.

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While the council was yet to process the application, sustainable infrastructure and services director Peter Waite said the city would continue to work with the Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group to explore options for sorting recycling.

“Hume residents can continue to take clean and sorted aluminium and steel cans, paper and cardboard to the Resource Recovery Centre at Bolinda Road, Campbellfield and the Riddell Road Landfill and Transfer Station in Sunbury,” he said.

“Council is exploring options for residents to drop off at other locations.”

The council was unable to answer questions about waste contracts between SKM and receiver Korda Mentha due to confidentiality.

Enrgx has been contacted for comment.