Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien to unveil waste-to-energy policy plan
Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien is set to unveil his first major policy commitment that he believes could end Victoria’s recycling crisis. See the proposed solution which takes its cues from hundreds of international success stories.
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All household rubbish would be diverted from the tip and turned into energy at hi-tech power stations under a state Opposition plan to drive down electricity prices and help solve Victoria’s recycling crisis.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien, in his first major policy commitment, will on Sunday promise to end non-recyclable rubbish being sent to landfill by 2035.
Instead, household waste would be burnt at energy-from-waste plants, and a $120 million fund set up to support the technology starting in Maryvale and Ballarat.
Hundreds of similar projects operate across Europe, North America and Asia but the technology has not been used in Victoria.
“It is proven, clean technology in use all around the world,” Mr O’Brien said.
“By delivering energy-from-waste facilities in Victoria, we can reduce what we send to landfill and turn it into reliable, low-emission energy.”
“This is part of our plan for Victoria’s future. We must take responsibility for our own waste so that our children can live in a state that is cleaner than the one we inherited from our parents.”
He promises a 33 per cent cut in household waste sent to landfill by 2025, a 66 per cent cut by 2030 and a complete end to landfill by 2035.
Australian Paper is planning a $600 million energy-from-waste project in Maryvale, which would handle 650,000 tonnes of rubbish a year and produce 225 megawatts of electricity.
The company expects it would deliver the same reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as taking 100,000 cars off the road, while supporting 1600 jobs during construction and 440 jobs when operational.
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Mr O’Brien’s plan would support that project and a planned $300 million plant in Ballarat that could process another 400,000 tonnes of waste a year and support 120 jobs.
Ballarat Mayor Ben Taylor said that project was on hold because of a “concerning” lack of policy certainty.
“We think it’s a no-brainer because we can’t keep burying waste in the ground,” he said.
Mr O’Brien’s $120 million commitment would be paid for out of the state’s $500 million sustainability fund.
“This isn’t just a policy for 15 years’ time, this is a policy for today,” he said.
“Our plan is about doing the right thing, solving today’s problems and standing up for future generations.”