Technology pathways for 80% waste recovery by 2030 and beyond

Five years into the introduction of the ambitious plan, as we can see from the 2023 Progress Summary Report¹, some targets have made significant progress, for others, more efforts are needed. Technological advancement is crucial in enabling Australia to achieve its aspirational targets.

Technologies to increase resource recovery rate

Core waste streams, particularly construction and demolition (C&D) waste, have been successfully pre-sorted and diverted from landfills. However, recovery rates for other mixed waste streams including like municipal solid waste (MSW) and commercial and industrial (C&I) waste have stagnated with current recycling practices. Despite the positive impact of the food organics and garden organics (FOGO) collection initiative on MSW recovery, it is evident that current recycling technologies alone are not enough to substantially boost recovery rates.

Additionally, there are regulated waste streams such as clinical and hazardous wastes, along with agricultural, forestry, biosolids, sewage sludge, and mining waste, each requiring specific recovery pathways. The 2022 national waste report² highlighted that plastics and textiles are notably lagging behind other categories. While glass, organics, paper, and cardboard are performing better, they still need improvement compared to metals and building materials. The ban on exporting plastics, paper, glass, and tires, which started in the latter half of 2020, presents a challenge as more materials now need to be processed domestically. This complicates efforts to meet recycling targets, as these materials were previously sent overseas for recycling.

Additional measures are necessary if Australia wants to achieve and exceed 80% waste recovery by 2030. As of 2020-21, the recovery rate stood at approximately 63%, which is significantly below the target.

Waste-to-Energy (WtE) is a proven recovery technology pathway for residual mixed waste streams with no technical, environmental or economically practicable means for recycling or reuse. When we also consider the proven approach to recover recyclable metals and create a secondary aggregate from the bottom ash residues for use in construction applications, potential recovery rates for these more challenging waste streams can start to approach European best practices levels of >95%. With over 50 years of experience, Ramboll is a global leader in the WtE engineering consultancy field, providing technical advice and Owners Engineering services to the industry.

Emerging technologies like AI for sorting can revolutionise waste sorting by enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and sustainability in recycling operations, to help reduce the amount ending up in landfills.

Waste-to-X

While leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and reduce contamination levels in both source separated streams, it’s crucial to adopt a holistic approach that integrates various technologies and processes to support the circular economy. This includes biomass, biofuels, and Power-to-X (P2X), all of which are areas where Ramboll has extensive expertise internationally.

Biomass derived from agricultural and forestry waste, waste oils and fats, and commercially separated food organics offers significant recovery benefits. Various biological and thermal processes can convert these materials into energy, chemical products, or renewable fuels, potentially achieving low or zero carbon emissions.

Biogas and biomethane derived from these organic waste streams play a dual role in enhancing Australia’s recycling and resource recovery targets while also decarbonising industries that are difficult to transition away from fossil fuels, particularly those requiring high heat sources, such as bricks, steel, and similar sectors. Biogas production, often through anaerobic digestion, offers a sustainable pathway for organic waste conversion. Upgraded biogas (biomethane) can then be injected into natural gas networks or utilised directly, providing a renewable alternative that supports low-carbon goals across multiple sectors where conventional electrification strategies are insufficient.

Combining these biomass sources with P2X technologies opens up additional pathways for producing low-carbon or carbon-negative products, which are particularly valuable for hard-to-abate industries like aviation and shipping. Moreover, integrating WtE with carbon capture and storage can yield carbon-negative products such as eMethanol, contributing to a low carbon circular economy and decarbonising hard to abate sectors such as shipping industry with sustainable and renewable fuel sources.

Ramboll has developed a comprehensive map of technologies that outlines various pathways for different materials. By combining biomass and waste with renewable energy and P2X, we can produce a diverse range of products. One area gaining traction is biomass and biomaterials, where anaerobic digestion can generate biogas, which can be upgraded for use in natural gas distribution networks – to displace natural gas.

As the largest dedicated WtE and carbon capture advisory team, our expertise lies in creating cost-effective and sustainable waste management solutions. These efforts will help Australia achieve and exceed its 80% waste recovery target by 2030.

¹ 2023 National Waste Policy Progress Summary Report (dcceew.gov.au)

² National Waste Report 2022 by Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia