The Waste to Energy Scheme encourages investment that supports diversion of residual waste from landfill, while avoiding risks to recycling outcomes in the future.
The purpose of the Scheme is to:
- encourage investment in facilities that help achieve the goals and targets of Recycling Victoria
- support a diverse and competitive waste to energy market
- have a consistent, transparent and fair mechanism for licensing.
There is a cap on the amount of permitted waste that is treated in thermal waste to energy processes to ensure investment in waste to energy facilities does not compromise current and future investment in Victoria's efforts to avoid, reuse and recycle more waste.
Victoria's Waste to Energy Scheme
Recycling Victoria regulates market-related aspects of thermal waste to energy processes under Victoria’s Waste to Energy Scheme.
Cap licences
Expressions of interest for a thermal waste to energy cap licence have closed. Successful applicants will be notified and invited to submit a full application.
Existing operator licences
Applications for existing operator licences closed on 4 December 2023 with Recycling Victoria issuing licences to four existing waste to energy operators.
About waste to energy
Waste to energy provides an alternative to landfills for most types of residual waste, reducing the state’s reliance on landfills for non-recyclable or non-recoverable waste.
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