Change is happening

AT last there is light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to Australia’s emission reductions as Western Australia is going to be the first state in Australia to implement a waste to energy plant next year. It will divert 90 per cent of landfill to energy to power 50,000 homes and in the process offset 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually as well as nullify the effects of methane that emanates from landfill. Ash that remains from the process will be made into bricks in so doing they are following the process of a circular economy. Logan City has a biosolid gasification plant underway with a demonstration facility to be up and running next month and becoming operational by July 2021. Initially it will prevent 4,800 tonnes of carbon polluting our skies. It is the type of technology that can be adapted to existing waste water plants without a huge cost. It will be saving the ratepayers about $500,000 annually.

Other states (not Tasmania as far as I know) are now researching sustainable circular economy processes. Ballarat is hosting an international Waste to Energy Forum next month and Victoria is well into adopting such technologies in the near future.

It is now obvious that positive sustainable changes to lessen climate change are state-driven. The Morrison Government Luddites’ head-in-the-sand approach will be inconsequential.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency and CSIRO websites have this and more information available about what is in the pipeline. I find it disappointing that general news outlets, including newspapers do not publicise such happenings.

Warren Robertson

Bellerive