Turning leftover food and grease into power
Western Water has unveiled its new recycling facility in Melbourne’s west that will recover resources from waste, cut greenhouse emissions and produce enough renewable energy to power the company’s recycled water plant.
The $3.3 million facility in Melton will treat up to 5000 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.
The facility, which was supported by an $800,000 state government grant, will generate up to 1000 megawatt-hours of renewable electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 900 tonnes annually.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio said that it would be the equivalent of taking 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.”
The biogas produced at the facility will be used to power the Melton Recycled Water Plant onsite, reducing reliance on the grid and cutting Western Water’s energy costs.
Pact Group wins Circular Economy Award for milk bottle recycling efforts
Pact Group has won the Circular Economy Award for its efforts in turning half a billion used milk...
Endeavour Group joins Sustainable Wine Roundtable
Endeavour Group has joined the Sustainable Wine Roundtable, which is designed to inspire...
Recycled milk cartons transformed into building material
MILKLAB has partnered with saveBOARD to transform recycled waste into usable walls.