The Andrews Labor Government has launched a cutting-edge recycling facility in Melton that will recover more resources from waste, cut greenhouse emissions and produce enough renewable energy to power the Western Water recycled water plant.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio today opened Western Water’s $3.3 million Melton Waste to Energy Facility, which was supported by an $800,000 grant from the Labor Government.

The facility will treat up to 5,000 kilolitres of liquid food waste each year – including leftover cooked meals, food scraps, fats, oils, old drinks and greases – from local businesses and convert it into biogas.

With organic waste representing over 30 per cent of the total solid waste sent to the state’s landfills, this waste to energy facility is an important part of the Labor Government’s targets to reduce the amount of organic waste that ends up in landfill.

The facility will generate up to 1,000 megawatt hours of renewable electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 900 tonnes annually – the equivalent of taking 300 cars off the road each year.

The biogas produced at the facility will be used to power the Melton Recycled Water Plant on site, reducing reliance on the grid and cutting Western Water’s energy costs. This is in line with the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in the Labor Government’s Water for Victoria plan.

The Melton Waste to Energy Facility will contribute to the Labor Government’s goal of halving the amount of organic material going to the state’s landfills by 2030 and assist Victoria in meeting its zero net carbon target by 2050.

The Waste to Energy Infrastructure fund is part of the Labor Government’s ground-breaking $380 million Recycling Victoria package, which is expanding Victoria’s recycling system and reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“This facility will turn food scraps, oil and grease from local businesses into clean power – reducing the plant’s greenhouse gas emissions by 900 tonnes a year –  that’s the equivalent of 300 cars off the road each year.”

“Food scraps and organic waste make up almost a third of all the waste sent to landfill. This new facility makes use of that material and creates enough energy to power this recycled water plant.”

Quote attributable to Acting Minister for Water Richard Wynne

“Projects like this help to keep water bills low. By generating its own energy, rather than being dependent on purchasing energy, this bioenergy facility is saving customers money.”