An innovative solution to waste management that will see household rubbish and biomass turned into useful products instead of ending up in landfill is set to be demonstrated in Western Australia.
In partnership with the Shire of Collie, Renergi has completed the construction of the $10.4 million Collie Resource Recovery Centre, with significant support from the WA and Commonwealth Governments.
Renergi also attracted investment from a private consortium to develop the project.
Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen and Regional Development Minister Don Punch today joined representatives from Renergi to officially mark the completion of construction of the Collie Resource Recovery Centre.
The plant, which was built using a patented design and uses technology developed in WA by Renergi, is the first of its kind and positions Collie as a pioneer in the negative-emission bio-based circular economy. Renergi and its technology were incubated at Curtin University by an engineering team led by Professor Chun-Zhu Li.
With the potential to revolutionise the way waste is managed, the project is expected to attract wide attention as a possible clean way of converting biomass and municipal solid wastes into valuable products. It could also reduce landfills to low levels and convert plastic wastes into valuable industrial and energy inputs.
The plant will convert rubbish collected from households as well as biomass wastes into commercially viable bio-char, bio-oil and wood vinegar.
Biochar can be sold as a soil conditioner or used in road construction, where it is recognised as a medium for secure, long-term carbon sequestration.
Bio-oil can be used as a liquid fuel or as feedstock for replacement of fossil carbon in chemical manufactures, iron-making and other industries. Wood vinegar is a valuable input in horticulture.
Up to 12 full-time jobs will be created to support the operation of the facility, which is co-located with the Shire of Collie’s landfill site.
Local use of bio-oil and char can potentially contribute to other industrial developments in Collie and the surrounding region.
