Waste to Energy Feasibility Study, Australia

To align with the Queensland Government’s Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy, the North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NQROC) – comprising Townsville, Burdekin, Hinchinbrook, Charters Towers and Palm Island – and the Cairns and Mackay Regional Councils needed to identify the right waste management strategies and if waste-to-energy (WTE) was a viable compliance option.​

Working with NQROC, Ramboll prepared a comprehensive business case for developing a WTE solution for residual waste in place of landfill disposal. Our study included: determining what residual waste resources are potentially available and suitable for a WTE recovery outcome; identifying a preferred technology pathway; evaluating potential sites and associated waste transportation and utility services infrastructure, and; factoring into our study residue management, approvals, stakeholder engagement and project risk management. ​

Our business case yielded a positive outcome in favour of a WTE facility – one more cost competitive than the existing landfill option – with a recommendation for further investigations. This has allowed NQROC and the other Regional Councils to progress with tendering the next stage of project evaluation and development.