Waste

Sydney, Australia

Sydney waste recycling cuts 210,000t CO2 and generates $11.6M USD annually

What is it?

The Urban Resource – Reduction, Recovery and Recycling (UR-3R) Process® is a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) that treats municipal solid waste from two Sydney municipalities through integrated sorting, biological digestion and composting processes. The process turns methane to energy without incineration and produces 40,000 tons of organic fertilizer each year.

This public/private partnership between the Australian company Global Renewables and two Sydney Municipal governments is a highly successful waste recycling model - avoiding 210,000 of tons CO2 emissions and generating $11.6MUSD every year.

How does it work?

The facility processes 175,000 tons of municipal solid waste each year. The organic fraction of household waste is separated and cleaned, producing renewable energy and returning carbon to the soil. The UR 3R Process® differentiates itself from other processes that use both mechanical and biological treatment (MBT) to process waste, as incineration is not required. It also avoids dumping more than 70% of the resource rich waste into landfill.

The result is a fully integrated waste management process with the ability to recover the maximum possible amount of recyclables, compost, electrical energy and Emissions Reduction Units (‘carbon credits’) plus reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of leachate entering the soil and water.

Key results

• 175,000 tons of municipal waste treated with over 70% redirected from landfill
• 210,000 tCO2 avoided
• $11.6 MUSD generated
• 40,000 tons of organic fertilizer sold to local farmers each year
• Global Renewables expanding operations to UK via $5 billion project in Lancashire
• Company pursuing projects in Asia-Pacific region

Application

The UR-3R recycling infrastructure can be implemented in any urban area where in excess of around 150,000 tons per annum of municipal waste can be collected and delivered regularly (weekly or fortnightly) to the facility.

The UR-3R facility is designed to be energy self sufficient, with zero water balance (depending on waste composition) and with odour and noise emissions that make it suitable to be located in an industrial zone in reasonably close proximity to residential areas, thus minimizing transport effects.

The UR-3R has a minimal environmental and social impact, and so facilitates planning approvals, and creates around 100 jobs (compared to only a few in the landfill it replaces) and delivers recyclable materials into the local value add industries.