Waste it or use it?

The world is moving at a great speed towards a renewables future and the focus in Australia has been on policy while the public focus has been on the electricity sector and the electricity generators using thermal coal as a fuel source.

In Australia we are doing amazing things in the conversion of some of our waste streams to energy be that liquids or electricity not to mention the recycling of clothes, plastics, paper, cardboard and tyres etc.

Reducing landfill is critical and given many states have or are in the process of increasing the cost of dumping waste (Waste Levy) and introducing container deposits this sector of our economy is undergoing rapid transformation. Container deposits work, just ask South Australian's. Price levers bring about a positive attitudinal change in behaviour.

Over 530 local Local Government Councils spread across the country collect a large volume of waste that's deposited in local rubbish dumps or as they have become known, "Resource Recovery Centres". Mum, I'm off to the rubbish dump with Dad sounds better!

Mind you access waste to energy technology and or facilities is more than likely going to be along the east coast and in the capital cities. It's a volume business.

As Australia (governments) sharpen the focus on meeting the Paris COP 21 emissions targets and directs attention to other sectors of the economy, I expect we will see greater investment in the waste to energy sector as well as technology step changes that will reduce the initial costs of waste to energy facilities, not to mention the various transformation process involved in the outcome. It's a bit like VHS v Betamax for those old enough to remember those days, VHS won the day.

When we look around at waste there is no stopping us because waste is everywhere.

Recently, I led a comprehensive study into the waste to energy process as a policy level to reduce landfill and deliver an economic return. At the beginning of the study, I thought all waste was in fact waste. I'm happy to report that after the first few minutes of the meeting, I no longer held that view, thanks Matthew.

As I mentioned earlier local governments have a huge role to play in addressing the growth in landfill not to mention the costs to ratepayers of building new Waste Recovery Centres. Deferring capital expenditure on these facilities will be warmly regarded by ratepayers, the broad community not to mention the economic gain in selling the waste and the reduction in emissions.

The trick is to pick the right locations with volumes of waste that meet the economies of scale as waste is expensive to move from point A to a facility at point B.

Running in parallel and focussing on reducing emissions is the Bio Fuels sector where Queensland's 10 year Bio Fuels Strategy sets out a clear pathway for the state to become a powerhouse in the production and supply of Bio Fuels.

#biofuels #wastetoenergy #renewables #economiesofscale

Bio Futures